Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
I'm convinced the public authorities now try and go for an easy life rather than stand up for what's right and risk dealing with violence.
In their defence they probably get little protection, cover or support from their superiors for the latter, but that's not an excuse.
It's hard but the police are there to maintain order, not to take sides in a potential riot. Possibly they were too cautious. Yesterday someone posted a picture of a Genocide poster near Wes Streeting's office. I happened to be there yesterday and there are also Palestinian flags flying from several lampposts. But there was no damage to or graffiti on the Jewish community centre there, and so far as I know, nor was there to Streeting's office.
Probably there was no danger from the crowd but if there had been, what then?
The police are supposed to protect the public.
'Takes sides in a potential riot?' WTF?
Do you think it okay for Jewish people to display their identity in public? Or would it be better if they didn't so we can all have an easy life.
Yes, I think it is OK. And if you read what I said, it was that the danger was most likely all in the police's head. But if it wasn't, what then?
Forget the Middle East. Let's imagine they were policing the Old Firm Game and three Rangers fans stumbled across thousands of Celtic fans. Would half a dozen coppers be able to hold the line or might they suggest that perhaps the Rangers trio took their scarves off?
Don't football clubs also have to pay for their own policing? Perhaps that might be part of the answer for the protests?
Ok a new report says the missiles have actually been launched. But they won’t hit for 6-9 minutes so we have time to do some memes?
I heard the US government have realised that the Russias are using What3Words for targetng, and they've used square.oath.melt instead of their intended target, hidden.causes.decreased...
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
I'm convinced the public authorities now try and go for an easy life rather than stand up for what's right and risk dealing with violence.
In their defence they probably get little protection, cover or support from their superiors for the latter, but that's not an excuse.
It's hard but the police are there to maintain order, not to take sides in a potential riot. Possibly they were too cautious. Yesterday someone posted a picture of a Genocide poster near Wes Streeting's office. I happened to be there yesterday and there are also Palestinian flags flying from several lampposts. But there was no damage to or graffiti on the Jewish community centre there, and so far as I know, nor was there to Streeting's office.
Probably there was no danger from the crowd but if there had been, what then?
The police are supposed to protect the public.
'Takes sides in a potential riot?' WTF?
Do you think it okay for Jewish people to display their identity in public? Or would it be better if they didn't so we can all have an easy life.
Yes, I think it is OK. And if you read what I said, it was that the danger was most likely all in the police's head. But if it wasn't, what then?
Forget the Middle East. Let's imagine they were policing the Old Firm Game and three Rangers fans stumbled across thousands of Celtic fans. Would half a dozen coppers be able to hold the line or might they suggest that perhaps the Rangers trio took their scarves off?
Don't football clubs also have to pay for their own policing? Perhaps that might be part of the answer for the protests?
Don't police need to uphold the right to protest? And for all that the Middle East has got people overwrought and demonstrating for and against things that are not in the control of people here, there have been no riots and no deaths. This is not the poll tax or the miners' strike.
Off topic. But. When pet food suppliers email you on Valentines afternoon to ask what you’re doing for your beloved dog today, even I begin to wonder whether that’s going too far.
No. That's not what Man's Best Friend is supposed to mean.
Off topic. But. When pet food suppliers email you on Valentines afternoon to ask what you’re doing for your beloved dog today, even I begin to wonder whether that’s going too far.
No. That's not what Man's Best Friend is supposed to mean.
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
I'm convinced the public authorities now try and go for an easy life rather than stand up for what's right and risk dealing with violence.
In their defence they probably get little protection, cover or support from their superiors for the latter, but that's not an excuse.
It's hard but the police are there to maintain order, not to take sides in a potential riot. Possibly they were too cautious. Yesterday someone posted a picture of a Genocide poster near Wes Streeting's office. I happened to be there yesterday and there are also Palestinian flags flying from several lampposts. But there was no damage to or graffiti on the Jewish community centre there, and so far as I know, nor was there to Streeting's office.
Probably there was no danger from the crowd but if there had been, what then?
The police are supposed to protect the public.
'Takes sides in a potential riot?' WTF?
Do you think it okay for Jewish people to display their identity in public? Or would it be better if they didn't so we can all have an easy life.
Yes, I think it is OK. And if you read what I said, it was that the danger was most likely all in the police's head. But if it wasn't, what then?
Forget the Middle East. Let's imagine they were policing the Old Firm Game and three Rangers fans stumbled across thousands of Celtic fans. Would half a dozen coppers be able to hold the line or might they suggest that perhaps the Rangers trio took their scarves off?
Don't football clubs also have to pay for their own policing? Perhaps that might be part of the answer for the protests?
Don't police need to uphold the right to protest? And for all that the Middle East has got people overwrought and demonstrating for and against things that are not in the control of people here, there have been no riots and no deaths. This is not the poll tax or the miners' strike.
Yes but when the police themselves are saying it might not be safe for someone to be showing their identity in public it's hard not to take the threat seriously.
'People overwrought' 'for and against things'
You make it sound like the threat is inter communal violence based on a foreign conflict. The attempt at two sidesism is pathetic. The threat perceived or otherwise comes entirely from one side. The fear is entirely on the other. Can't you acknowledge that?
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
I'm convinced the public authorities now try and go for an easy life rather than stand up for what's right and risk dealing with violence.
In their defence they probably get little protection, cover or support from their superiors for the latter, but that's not an excuse.
It's hard but the police are there to maintain order, not to take sides in a potential riot. Possibly they were too cautious. Yesterday someone posted a picture of a Genocide poster near Wes Streeting's office. I happened to be there yesterday and there are also Palestinian flags flying from several lampposts. But there was no damage to or graffiti on the Jewish community centre there, and so far as I know, nor was there to Streeting's office.
Probably there was no danger from the crowd but if there had been, what then?
The police are supposed to protect the public.
'Takes sides in a potential riot?' WTF?
Do you think it okay for Jewish people to display their identity in public? Or would it be better if they didn't so we can all have an easy life.
Yes, I think it is OK. And if you read what I said, it was that the danger was most likely all in the police's head. But if it wasn't, what then?
Forget the Middle East. Let's imagine they were policing the Old Firm Game and three Rangers fans stumbled across thousands of Celtic fans. Would half a dozen coppers be able to hold the line or might they suggest that perhaps the Rangers trio took their scarves off?
Don't football clubs also have to pay for their own policing? Perhaps that might be part of the answer for the protests?
Don't police need to uphold the right to protest? And for all that the Middle East has got people overwrought and demonstrating for and against things that are not in the control of people here, there have been no riots and no deaths. This is not the poll tax or the miners' strike.
The police did rather more than keep order during the miners' strike. They were combatants.
Off topic. But. When pet food suppliers email you on Valentines afternoon to ask what you’re doing for your beloved dog today, even I begin to wonder whether that’s going too far.
No. That's not what Man's Best Friend is supposed to mean.
Off topic. But. When pet food suppliers email you on Valentines afternoon to ask what you’re doing for your beloved dog today, even I begin to wonder whether that’s going too far.
No. That's not what Man's Best Friend is supposed to mean.
Off topic. But. When pet food suppliers email you on Valentines afternoon to ask what you’re doing for your beloved dog today, even I begin to wonder whether that’s going too far.
It's my cat's birthday today (or so we were told by the people we got him from), much more fun than Valentine's.
I'm enjoying the debate about the change to the tax treatment of double cab pickup trucks. Essentially townies don't like the people who drive them in town and think its great. Those of us in the sticks realise its a disaster.
"Just pay the tax" says one - £7k a year? Or "separate business and non-business use". How do you do that when your business is where you live? And separating business and non business use means driving scores of additional miles to swap vehicles which means less work done at more cost.
I assume the HMRC / Treasury people have never been to the countryside.
The issue for HMRC is that that type of vehicle is being used by more and more people as a 2 for the price of 1 deal to avoid tax - so I can see why HMRC are cracking down on it.
Easiest solution is to replace it with a single cab track when you come to replace it and buy a car for personal use -
How does that work? I know of several local contractors who have these. They buy a double cab because they use the space. They have a business based at home (one is a farm), and when the nearest shop is 10 miles away the idea of separating business and non business is for the birds.
Its great for fans of EVs as so far they are exempt - BIK is 2%. Maxus have just done a firesale on their first attempt (rear wheel drive only lol) to import a proper one. Ford are to launch an EV Ranger. Bye bye diesel in the medium term.
But in the short term? Less work gets done at a higher cost. Well done Tories, well done...
How does that work? Government wants money for tax cuts so anything that looks like abuse (and I can see why double cabs are seen as abuse) is going to be investigated.
So yep the people near you are collateral damage but hey some of us have been subject to the collateral damage of other HMRC crackdowns for 20+ years and you just have to accept it - while praying that HMRC don’t decide to use you as an example test case
This whole episode is a good demonstration of how the government stuffs up everything it touches. It was clearly less than ideal to have loads of people driving round in double cab pickups they don't really need to to evade BiK payments. It was also massively predictable that it would happen - I think I may well be the only small business owner I know who hasn't got one.
The root problem is of course that BiK on cars is wildly unfair. Rochdale rides round in his company Tesla paying almost nothing, because he rejoices in a) having loads of money to buy one and b) His use case actually works within the range of a Tesla. Meanwhile the guys I bought my business off are about to be stung for shedloads of BiK on their work pickup trucks where the rear seats are used a secure tool storage rather than for passengers, and who actually use the pickup bed for moving heavy items daily. They also have the sort of use patterns which make EVs completely un-viable - frequently doing 300-500 miles in a day, often to do jobs at locations where there is no prospect of charging (eg water works in the middle of wherever).
The best fix is probably just to abolish BiK on cars full stop. We've effectively done it for EVs, which shows we don't care about the principle of it, we'd do better to just let people buy suitable vehicles through their businesses rather than move keep moving loopholes round.
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
I'm convinced the public authorities now try and go for an easy life rather than stand up for what's right and risk dealing with violence.
In their defence they probably get little protection, cover or support from their superiors for the latter, but that's not an excuse.
It's hard but the police are there to maintain order, not to take sides in a potential riot. Possibly they were too cautious. Yesterday someone posted a picture of a Genocide poster near Wes Streeting's office. I happened to be there yesterday and there are also Palestinian flags flying from several lampposts. But there was no damage to or graffiti on the Jewish community centre there, and so far as I know, nor was there to Streeting's office.
Probably there was no danger from the crowd but if there had been, what then?
The police are supposed to protect the public.
'Takes sides in a potential riot?' WTF?
Do you think it okay for Jewish people to display their identity in public? Or would it be better if they didn't so we can all have an easy life.
Yes, I think it is OK. And if you read what I said, it was that the danger was most likely all in the police's head. But if it wasn't, what then?
Forget the Middle East. Let's imagine they were policing the Old Firm Game and three Rangers fans stumbled across thousands of Celtic fans. Would half a dozen coppers be able to hold the line or might they suggest that perhaps the Rangers trio took their scarves off?
Don't football clubs also have to pay for their own policing? Perhaps that might be part of the answer for the protests?
Don't police need to uphold the right to protest? And for all that the Middle East has got people overwrought and demonstrating for and against things that are not in the control of people here, there have been no riots and no deaths. This is not the poll tax or the miners' strike.
Yes but when the police themselves are saying it might not be safe for someone to be showing their identity in public it's hard not to take the threat seriously.
'People overwrought' 'for and against things'
You make it sound like the threat is inter communal violence based on a foreign conflict. The attempt at two sidesism is pathetic. The threat perceived or otherwise comes entirely from one side. The fear is entirely on the other. Can't you acknowledge that?
There was an Islamic school round here that had to close for a couple of days following threats but it is not about keeping score. And what fear are you talking about? If the Jews in your Scottish example were afraid, they'd not have been wearing Stars of David in the first place. They were not afraid, they were not hiding their identity, it was the police who worried things might kick off in a way that, so far, they have not.
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
I'm convinced the public authorities now try and go for an easy life rather than stand up for what's right and risk dealing with violence.
In their defence they probably get little protection, cover or support from their superiors for the latter, but that's not an excuse.
It's hard but the police are there to maintain order, not to take sides in a potential riot. Possibly they were too cautious. Yesterday someone posted a picture of a Genocide poster near Wes Streeting's office. I happened to be there yesterday and there are also Palestinian flags flying from several lampposts. But there was no damage to or graffiti on the Jewish community centre there, and so far as I know, nor was there to Streeting's office.
Probably there was no danger from the crowd but if there had been, what then?
The police are supposed to protect the public.
'Takes sides in a potential riot?' WTF?
Do you think it okay for Jewish people to display their identity in public? Or would it be better if they didn't so we can all have an easy life.
Yes, I think it is OK. And if you read what I said, it was that the danger was most likely all in the police's head. But if it wasn't, what then?
Forget the Middle East. Let's imagine they were policing the Old Firm Game and three Rangers fans stumbled across thousands of Celtic fans. Would half a dozen coppers be able to hold the line or might they suggest that perhaps the Rangers trio took their scarves off?
Don't football clubs also have to pay for their own policing? Perhaps that might be part of the answer for the protests?
Don't police need to uphold the right to protest? And for all that the Middle East has got people overwrought and demonstrating for and against things that are not in the control of people here, there have been no riots and no deaths. This is not the poll tax or the miners' strike.
Yes but when the police themselves are saying it might not be safe for someone to be showing their identity in public it's hard not to take the threat seriously.
'People overwrought' 'for and against things'
You make it sound like the threat is inter communal violence based on a foreign conflict. The attempt at two sidesism is pathetic. The threat perceived or otherwise comes entirely from one side. The fear is entirely on the other. Can't you acknowledge that?
There was an Islamic school round here that had to close for a couple of days following threats but it is not about keeping score. And what fear are you talking about? If the Jews in your Scottish example were afraid, they'd not have been wearing Stars of David in the first place. They were not afraid, they were not hiding their identity, it was the police who worried things might kick off in a way that, so far, they have not.
Are you listening to what British Jews have been saying for months? Many admit to hiding their identity in public. Many don't want to go into central London at weekends. Their schools and religious buildings get more police protection than those of others for a reason. Do you think pro Palestine types like Jeremy Corbyn are getting the same scale of abuse that those on the other side get? Yes I'm sure you can come up with the odd anecdote but if you cannot see this disparity then you are willfully blind.
The considerable divergence in Conservative vote shares makes any kind of generalisation difficult.
Broadly, we have two sets of polls - High Conservative shares (27-29%) which include Savanta, More In Common, Deltapoll and Survation and Low Conservative share (21-25%) which would be everyone else including Opinium, YouGov and Redfield & Wilton.
Why the differences? Weighting, sampling, prompting, re-allocation of Don't Knows, prioritising likelihood to vote - all are possibilities. We will of course tomorrow have actual votes cast in actual constituencies in actual elections (ok, by-elections) so we get a more indicative sense.
Naturally, if it's a poor Conservative vote and turnout is low, it'll be same old story of "protesting in a by-election by staying at home and they'll come back at the General Election". Perhaps but as the saying goes, it's the hope that kills you.
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack on him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
I'm convinced the public authorities now try and go for an easy life rather than stand up for what's right and risk dealing with violence.
In their defence they probably get little protection, cover or support from their superiors for the latter, but that's not an excuse.
It's hard but the police are there to maintain order, not to take sides in a potential riot. Possibly they were too cautious. Yesterday someone posted a picture of a Genocide poster near Wes Streeting's office. I happened to be there yesterday and there are also Palestinian flags flying from several lampposts. But there was no damage to or graffiti on the Jewish community centre there, and so far as I know, nor was there to Streeting's office.
Probably there was no danger from the crowd but if there had been, what then?
The police are supposed to protect the public.
'Takes sides in a potential riot?' WTF?
Do you think it okay for Jewish people to display their identity in public? Or would it be better if they didn't so we can all have an easy life.
Yes, I think it is OK. And if you read what I said, it was that the danger was most likely all in the police's head. But if it wasn't, what then?
Forget the Middle East. Let's imagine they were policing the Old Firm Game and three Rangers fans stumbled across thousands of Celtic fans. Would half a dozen coppers be able to hold the line or might they suggest that perhaps the Rangers trio took their scarves off?
Don't football clubs also have to pay for their own policing? Perhaps that might be part of the answer for the protests?
Don't police need to uphold the right to protest? And for all that the Middle East has got people overwrought and demonstrating for and against things that are not in the control of people here, there have been no riots and no deaths. This is not the poll tax or the miners' strike.
Yes but when the police themselves are saying it might not be safe for someone to be showing their identity in public it's hard not to take the threat seriously.
'People overwrought' 'for and against things'
You make it sound like the threat is inter communal violence based on a foreign conflict. The attempt at two sidesism is pathetic. The threat perceived or otherwise comes entirely from one side. The fear is entirely on the other. Can't you acknowledge that?
There was an Islamic school round here that had to close for a couple of days following threats but it is not about keeping score. And what fear are you talking about? If the Jews in your Scottish example were afraid, they'd not have been wearing Stars of David in the first place. They were not afraid, they were not hiding their identity, it was the police who worried things might kick off in a way that, so far, they have not.
Are you listening to what British Jews have been saying for months? Many admit to hiding their identity in public. Many don't want to go into central London at weekends. Their schools and religious buildings get more police protection than those of others for a reason. Do you think pro Palestine types like Jeremy Corbyn are getting the same scale of abuse that those on the other side get? Yes I'm sure you can come up with the odd anecdote but if you cannot see this disparity then you are willfully blind.
If they actually listened and became aware of the horror of how they are behaving there would very much be an "Are we the baddies?" moment.
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack in him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack in him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
In the light of the judge’s “like” for this intemperately expressed LinkedIn posting (it has been reliably confirmed to me that this is genuine and is from the same judge’s LinkedIn account) I think he should arguably have recused himself from this trial
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
I'm convinced the public authorities now try and go for an easy life rather than stand up for what's right and risk dealing with violence.
In their defence they probably get little protection, cover or support from their superiors for the latter, but that's not an excuse.
It's hard but the police are there to maintain order, not to take sides in a potential riot. Possibly they were too cautious. Yesterday someone posted a picture of a Genocide poster near Wes Streeting's office. I happened to be there yesterday and there are also Palestinian flags flying from several lampposts. But there was no damage to or graffiti on the Jewish community centre there, and so far as I know, nor was there to Streeting's office.
Probably there was no danger from the crowd but if there had been, what then?
The police are supposed to protect the public.
'Takes sides in a potential riot?' WTF?
Do you think it okay for Jewish people to display their identity in public? Or would it be better if they didn't so we can all have an easy life.
Yes, I think it is OK. And if you read what I said, it was that the danger was most likely all in the police's head. But if it wasn't, what then?
Forget the Middle East. Let's imagine they were policing the Old Firm Game and three Rangers fans stumbled across thousands of Celtic fans. Would half a dozen coppers be able to hold the line or might they suggest that perhaps the Rangers trio took their scarves off?
Don't football clubs also have to pay for their own policing? Perhaps that might be part of the answer for the protests?
Don't police need to uphold the right to protest? And for all that the Middle East has got people overwrought and demonstrating for and against things that are not in the control of people here, there have been no riots and no deaths. This is not the poll tax or the miners' strike.
Yes but when the police themselves are saying it might not be safe for someone to be showing their identity in public it's hard not to take the threat seriously.
'People overwrought' 'for and against things'
You make it sound like the threat is inter communal violence based on a foreign conflict. The attempt at two sidesism is pathetic. The threat perceived or otherwise comes entirely from one side. The fear is entirely on the other. Can't you acknowledge that?
There was an Islamic school round here that had to close for a couple of days following threats but it is not about keeping score. And what fear are you talking about? If the Jews in your Scottish example were afraid, they'd not have been wearing Stars of David in the first place. They were not afraid, they were not hiding their identity, it was the police who worried things might kick off in a way that, so far, they have not.
Are you listening to what British Jews have been saying for months? Many admit to hiding their identity in public. Many don't want to go into central London at weekends. Their schools and religious buildings get more police protection than those of others for a reason. Do you think pro Palestine types like Jeremy Corbyn are getting the same scale of abuse that those on the other side get? Yes I'm sure you can come up with the odd anecdote but if you cannot see this disparity then you are willfully blind.
If they actually listened and became aware of the horror of how they are behaving there would very much be an "Are we the baddies?" moment.
True but I would like to distinguish between those who are clearly a part of it and those who just seem to have a difficulty in seeing the reality of it.
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack on him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack in him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
As it seems you have a profound dislike for Starmer, will you be voting Conservative at the next election?
I doubt it. What do you care?
I don't particularly.
No one is obliged to be objective and rational on here - what do you think about Sunak and the Conservatives? Do they deserve re-election or are they the lesser of two evils?
I am voting and campaigning Tory at the next election to keep Cameron as Foreign Secretary.
Most Cameroon Tories would of course be Democrats in the US or at most John McCain/Haley RINO Republicans so her reaction is not that a surprise.
In UK politics only the ERG and Farage, the DUP and ReformUK and Lawrence Fox and far right parties are for Trump and only really Faragites want a deal with Putin like MTG
In the light of the judge’s “like” for this intemperately expressed LinkedIn posting (it has been reliably confirmed to me that this is genuine and is from the same judge’s LinkedIn account) I think he should arguably have recused himself from this trial
I suspect that there are some judges who can be perfectly impartial on everything except one topic which they see as totemic or era-defining or outside normal boundaries (be it Israel, Brexit, whatever). There are then those who can be impartial on all topics. Hope the latter are in the majority.
I am voting and campaigning Tory at the next election to keep Cameron as Foreign Secretary.
I know some people like politicians to be combative and direct, but there is surely a limit and a line to when it is just pathetic. That needy, posturing crap just puts me off, like people who randomly swear and be vulgar because they think it is edgy and cool, so they can pretend to be some kind of rebel rather than just being a jackass. It doesn't even have the impact they think it does because if its ubiquitous rather than well chosen it's just boring.
I am voting and campaigning Tory at the next election to keep Cameron as Foreign Secretary.
Most Cameroon Tories would of course be Democrats in the US or at most John McCain/Haley RINO Republicans so her reaction is not that a surprise.
In UK politics only the ERG and Farage, the DUP and ReformUK and Lawrence Fox and far right parties are for Trump and only really Faragites want a deal with Putin like MTG
I keep reading this as "Magic: The Gathering" and it's making this thread seem quite bizarre.
I am voting and campaigning Tory at the next election to keep Cameron as Foreign Secretary.
He can only dream of getting called out by Putin himself like Boris was.
That was a high point of his premiership. I'm a little disappointed he's not made more of that positive and made himself the face of western Putin mocking in his post premiership career.
I am voting and campaigning Tory at the next election to keep Cameron as Foreign Secretary.
Most Cameroon Tories would of course be Democrats in the US or at most John McCain/Haley RINO Republicans so her reaction is not that a surprise.
In UK politics only the ERG and Farage, the DUP and ReformUK and Lawrence Fox and far right parties are for Trump and only really Faragites want a deal with Putin like MTG
I keep reading this as "Magic: The Gathering" and it's making this thread seem quite bizarre.
Players of Magic The Gathering have way more social skills than MTG.
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
Depends. The Star of David could be a religious symbol around the bystanders neck. It could equally be the Israeli flag. around his shoulders We have no way of knowing which it was. Though there should be nothing wrong with flag waving if it was a Pro Israeli rally with a man waving a Palestinian flag the police officer might do the same. Or even a Celtic flag in the middle of a bunch of Rangers supporters
Off topic. But. When pet food suppliers email you on Valentines afternoon to ask what you’re doing for your beloved dog today, even I begin to wonder whether that’s going too far.
It's my cat's birthday today (or so we were told by the people we got him from), much more fun than Valentine's.
I may have given my cat some tuna today and wished her a happy valentines.
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack in him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
As it seems you have a profound dislike for Starmer, will you be voting Conservative at the next election?
That is, of course, a major hurdle that they face. It is one thing to have a successful line to push people away from suppoting Starmer - I do not people who cannot stand him for the reasons expressed - but what is going to be the pull factor they use? Rishi is not popular enough to be one, the economy isn't doing well enough to be one, and it surely is not going to be a pitch for stability or transformation.
In 2019 it wasn't just that people disliked Corbyn, there were also plenty of people who liked Boris (or at the least supported his principle goal).
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack in him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
As it seems you have a profound dislike for Starmer, will you be voting Conservative at the next election?
I doubt it. What do you care?
I don't particularly.
No one is obliged to be objective and rational on here - what do you think about Sunak and the Conservatives? Do they deserve re-election or are they the lesser of two evils?
I’m sorry Stodge, that was a rude reply. I don’t know why I did that, there was no need
I’d rather the Conservatives win than Labour & I think Sir Keir will come across badly in the campaign & debates. It’s hard to separate the arguments I have on here with how I’d vote though, I don’t really think of myself as a Tory.
If Boris were in charge still, I’d vote Conservative. I liked the idea of Blue Labour, & I think that’s what he intended to deliver, but then Covid happened. Rishi helped take down Boris so can’t vote for him either
So I probably won’t vote, & hope the Tories somehow cling on
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack on him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
Something cheering. For the first time in 40 years, all the scaffolding has been removed from Salisbury Cathedral, and she can now be seen in all her purist beauty. Magnificent and peerless
We hack and sneer at our planning rules but just look at how beautiful and rural that medieval cathedral still looks, with a few developments sensitively nestling into the landscape around it, in a way that simply wouldn't be the case in many other countries.
Yes, but where are people going to park? Salisbury's economy is going to suffer unless they concrete over all that green space.
What's the accessibility like? Really needs a dual carriageway to carry visitors to the cathedral.
And why even have a cathedral? This country is now secular. That space could be used for at least 20 detached homes (plastic grass to reduce maintenance costs).
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
Amongst UK police forces, Police Scotland are known for being rather shambolic, and are suffering from reduced funding aiui.
I'm sure that @Eabhal has more stories than I do, but I note a case last year when Police Scotland downgraded a prosecution from Dangerous Driving to Careless Driving with the reason given to the victim that 'the driver could not remember the incident'.
Police Scotland had been supplied with video evidence.
There are other lackadaisical, deliberately crime-tolerating, or possibly corrupt police forces (North Lincs is imo one for road crime, and there are a couple of others), but Police Scotland have big problems.
Just wait until you see their new 'submit video evidence' system. Boy, is it.... 'remarkable'.
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
Depends. The Star of David could be a religious symbol around the bystanders neck. It could equally be the Israeli flag. around his shoulders We have no way of knowing which it was. Though there should be nothing wrong with flag waving if it was a Pro Israeli rally with a man waving a Palestinian flag the police officer might do the same. Or even a Celtic flag in the middle of a bunch of Rangers supporters
Yes but it fits with a pattern doesn't it. Police taking down pictures of the hostages, urging pro Israelis to 'get out of central London.'
Off topic. But. When pet food suppliers email you on Valentines afternoon to ask what you’re doing for your beloved dog today, even I begin to wonder whether that’s going too far.
It's my cat's birthday today (or so we were told by the people we got him from), much more fun than Valentine's.
I may have given my cat some tuna today and wished her a happy valentines.
I have come to terms with this now.
Could be worse.
Valentine's day:
First Class Tickets on Eurostar to Paris £490
Tickets to a show €300
Dinner : €260
Bottle of Veuve Clicquot : €150
Jewellery Gift : €2,750
144 Red Roses: €500
Hotel Suite with Butler : €5,750
The look on my face when she tells me she's on her period : Priceless
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
Amongst UK police forces, Police Scotland are known for being rather shambolic, and are suffering from reduced funding aiui.
I'm sure that @Eabhal has more stories than I do, but I note a case last year when Police Scotland downgraded a prosecution from Dangerous Driving to Careless Driving with the reason given to the victim that 'the driver could not remember the incident'.
Police Scotland had been supplied with video evidence.
There are other lackadaisical, deliberately crime-tolerating, or possibly corrupt police forces (North Lincs is imo one for road crime, and there are a couple of others), but Police Scotland have big problems.
It's the lack of dashcam portal submission system. This has been a source of huge productivity growth for other forces in the face of large cuts to traffic policing.
Like usual in Scotland, the police are developing their own portal system rather than just C&P the ones used in England. I've found the police officers I've dealt with highly professional for road traffic offences though, despite needing my signature approximately 20 times per offence.
Sentencing is a bigger issue. Life changing injuries. 12 months ban, £500 fine. I'm entirely against prison sentences for most offences; this is where a lifetime ban needs to be applied: www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-cyclist-life-changing-injuries-32084340.amp
At least here in the UK there’s cross party support for Ukraine . The parties are on the right side of history.
Most of the GOP in the House are a fxcking disgrace , shame on them.
One of the things that made me proud to be British last year was a senior Ukrainian minister saying a lot of Ukrainians were worried about elections in other countries leading to less support for Ukraine but they weren't worried about the UK as all the parties were unimpeachably pro Ukrainian.
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
Amongst UK police forces, Police Scotland are known for being rather shambolic, and are suffering from reduced funding aiui.
I'm sure that @Eabhal has more stories than I do, but I note a case last year when Police Scotland downgraded a prosecution from Dangerous Driving to Careless Driving with the reason given to the victim that 'the driver could not remember the incident'.
Police Scotland had been supplied with video evidence.
There are other lackadaisical, deliberately crime-tolerating, or possibly corrupt police forces (North Lincs is imo one for road crime, and there are a couple of others), but Police Scotland have big problems.
It's the lack of dashcam portal submission system. This has been a source of huge productivity growth for other forces in the face of large cuts to traffic policing.
Like usual in Scotland, the police are developing their own portal system rather than just C&P the ones used in England. I've found the police officers I've dealt with highly professional for road traffic offences though, despite needing my signature approximately 20 times per offence.
Sentencing is a bigger issue. Life changing injuries. 12 months ban, £500 fine. I'm entirely against prison sentences for most offences; this is where a lifetime ban needs to be applied: www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-cyclist-life-changing-injuries-32084340.amp
I'm enjoying the debate about the change to the tax treatment of double cab pickup trucks. Essentially townies don't like the people who drive them in town and think its great. Those of us in the sticks realise its a disaster.
"Just pay the tax" says one - £7k a year? Or "separate business and non-business use". How do you do that when your business is where you live? And separating business and non business use means driving scores of additional miles to swap vehicles which means less work done at more cost.
I assume the HMRC / Treasury people have never been to the countryside.
The issue for HMRC is that that type of vehicle is being used by more and more people as a 2 for the price of 1 deal to avoid tax - so I can see why HMRC are cracking down on it.
Easiest solution is to replace it with a single cab track when you come to replace it and buy a car for personal use -
How does that work? I know of several local contractors who have these. They buy a double cab because they use the space. They have a business based at home (one is a farm), and when the nearest shop is 10 miles away the idea of separating business and non business is for the birds.
Its great for fans of EVs as so far they are exempt - BIK is 2%. Maxus have just done a firesale on their first attempt (rear wheel drive only lol) to import a proper one. Ford are to launch an EV Ranger. Bye bye diesel in the medium term.
But in the short term? Less work gets done at a higher cost. Well done Tories, well done...
How does that work? Government wants money for tax cuts so anything that looks like abuse (and I can see why double cabs are seen as abuse) is going to be investigated.
So yep the people near you are collateral damage but hey some of us have been subject to the collateral damage of other HMRC crackdowns for 20+ years and you just have to accept it - while praying that HMRC don’t decide to use you as an example test case
This whole episode is a good demonstration of how the government stuffs up everything it touches. It was clearly less than ideal to have loads of people driving round in double cab pickups they don't really need to to evade BiK payments. It was also massively predictable that it would happen - I think I may well be the only small business owner I know who hasn't got one.
The root problem is of course that BiK on cars is wildly unfair. Rochdale rides round in his company Tesla paying almost nothing, because he rejoices in a) having loads of money to buy one and b) His use case actually works within the range of a Tesla. Meanwhile the guys I bought my business off are about to be stung for shedloads of BiK on their work pickup trucks where the rear seats are used a secure tool storage rather than for passengers, and who actually use the pickup bed for moving heavy items daily. They also have the sort of use patterns which make EVs completely un-viable - frequently doing 300-500 miles in a day, often to do jobs at locations where there is no prospect of charging (eg water works in the middle of wherever).
The best fix is probably just to abolish BiK on cars full stop. We've effectively done it for EVs, which shows we don't care about the principle of it, we'd do better to just let people buy suitable vehicles through their businesses rather than move keep moving loopholes round.
It's a broader problem with taxation and incentives for vehicles. Policies that make sense for the 80% of us who live in urban areas completely screw the rural economy, most obviously fuel duty.
Some people on the left/green side also support mileage taxation, which is just insane imo. We want to tax short, urban journeys, not long ones in rural areas.
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack on him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack on him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
Starmer Starmer Starmer Starmer Starmer Chameleon ... I think this might feature too if they can find a way for Rishi to sing it at PMQs.
Nice to see a bit of humour from Central Office. Wish them well with it.
If that's all they have they're screwed.
This line of attack was exactly what Labour tried to dent David Cameron. It didn't work as a) they put out adverts that made him look a bit cool (check). And b) The public often don't care or sometimes even know a politician has changed positions (check). Look at Boris - who has been all over the place during his political career.
It's also about accepting reality and assuming all politicians do it. Because they do. You could go through every politician's speeches or personal remarks and find they'd contradicted themselves by advocating positions they later dropped.
There's always a bit of a bind too - if the Tories want to scare people by saying Labour are reckless profligates and Starmer Corbyn in disguise then highlighting the fact he's ditched the policies you are claiming are crap rather highlights that they've both ditched said policy you say is crap. Plus they are flexible enough to change course when they decide they've messed up - a not entirely undesirable quality in a PM.
What could possibly more uniquely American than a shooting taking place at a parade celebrating a football team winning the Super Bowl? We can’t continue living like this. This is what happens when elected officials refuse to act on gun violence. We’ve had f*cking enough of this. https://twitter.com/Victorshi2020/status/1757864284519100587
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack on him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack in him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
As it seems you have a profound dislike for Starmer, will you be voting Conservative at the next election?
I doubt it. What do you care?
I don't particularly.
No one is obliged to be objective and rational on here - what do you think about Sunak and the Conservatives? Do they deserve re-election or are they the lesser of two evils?
I’m sorry Stodge, that was a rude reply. I don’t know why I did that, there was no need
I’d rather the Conservatives win than Labour & I think Sir Keir will come across badly in the campaign & debates. It’s hard to separate the arguments I have on here with how I’d vote though, I don’t really think of myself as a Tory.
If Boris were in charge still, I’d vote Conservative. I liked the idea of Blue Labour, & I think that’s what he intended to deliver, but then Covid happened. Rishi helped take down Boris so can’t vote for him either
So I probably won’t vote, & hope the Tories somehow cling on
No problem - appreciate the kind word but not necessary.
I understand from where you are coming and I always thought some who voted Conservative in 2019 voted "for Boris" than for the Conservative Party which is fair enough just as you can vote Labour but not be a fan of Starmer.
I'm not sure where the "Blue Labour" idea has gone. Oddly enough, the Redfield & Wilton "Blue Wall" polling suggests Labour are getting votes in the southern marginals.
Labour has always had the tension between its liberal side and its conservative side. The re-emergence of a more socially conservative aspect, overtly patriotic and anti-migrant isn't inconceivable - that's one of the reasons why the traditional notions of "left" and "right" are outdated and irrelevant.
EU scales back ambitions for post-Brexit clearing land grab Opposition from banks and asset managers and Franco-German tensions seen as undermining early plans
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
Amongst UK police forces, Police Scotland are known for being rather shambolic, and are suffering from reduced funding aiui.
I'm sure that @Eabhal has more stories than I do, but I note a case last year when Police Scotland downgraded a prosecution from Dangerous Driving to Careless Driving with the reason given to the victim that 'the driver could not remember the incident'.
Police Scotland had been supplied with video evidence.
There are other lackadaisical, deliberately crime-tolerating, or possibly corrupt police forces (North Lincs is imo one for road crime, and there are a couple of others), but Police Scotland have big problems.
It's the lack of dashcam portal submission system. This has been a source of huge productivity growth for other forces in the face of large cuts to traffic policing.
Like usual in Scotland, the police are developing their own portal system rather than just C&P the ones used in England. I've found the police officers I've dealt with highly professional for road traffic offences though, despite needing my signature approximately 20 times per offence.
Sentencing is a bigger issue. Life changing injuries. 12 months ban, £500 fine. I'm entirely against prison sentences for most offences; this is where a lifetime ban needs to be applied: www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-cyclist-life-changing-injuries-32084340.amp
The Conservatives have published a series of ‘Starmer Sutra’ posts on Twitter/X. I’ve said many times I think this is the best line of attack in him, so quite pleased to see it in action
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
As it seems you have a profound dislike for Starmer, will you be voting Conservative at the next election?
I doubt it. What do you care?
I don't particularly.
No one is obliged to be objective and rational on here - what do you think about Sunak and the Conservatives? Do they deserve re-election or are they the lesser of two evils?
I’m sorry Stodge, that was a rude reply. I don’t know why I did that, there was no need
I’d rather the Conservatives win than Labour & I think Sir Keir will come across badly in the campaign & debates. It’s hard to separate the arguments I have on here with how I’d vote though, I don’t really think of myself as a Tory.
If Boris were in charge still, I’d vote Conservative. I liked the idea of Blue Labour, & I think that’s what he intended to deliver, but then Covid happened. Rishi helped take down Boris so can’t vote for him either
So I probably won’t vote, & hope the Tories somehow cling on
No problem - appreciate the kind word but not necessary.
I understand from where you are coming and I always thought some who voted Conservative in 2019 voted "for Boris" than for the Conservative Party which is fair enough just as you can vote Labour but not be a fan of Starmer.
I'm not sure where the "Blue Labour" idea has gone. Oddly enough, the Redfield & Wilton "Blue Wall" polling suggests Labour are getting votes in the southern marginals.
Labour has always had the tension between its liberal side and its conservative side. The re-emergence of a more socially conservative aspect, overtly patriotic and anti-migrant isn't inconceivable - that's one of the reasons why the traditional notions of "left" and "right" are outdated and irrelevant.
Interesting interview with one of the architects of Blue Labour, Maurice Glasman
Must say though, like Glasman, I wouldn’t really consider myself all that patriotic in a flag waving way; I think patriotism is a bit silly. Internationalism is quite a good concept, but mass immigration of cheap Labour doing over the poorest in a country whilst lining the pockets of the rich is not acceptable
Some sort of European version of Nato minus the United States would seem more likely.
In other news and I'm sorry if this has already been posted but we have footage of a police officer in Edinburgh telling a Jewish person to hide their star of David as it may 'trigger' a group of protesters. Why aren't you all as angry about this as you are with the Tories and their failings?
'At a rally in Edinburgh, a PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.
The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to Jews, but his response was effectively to stop a passing Jewish man and ask him to hide his identity before continuing on his way.
Whose rights are actually being protected here, those of law-abiding people or those of mobs of extremists who might be “triggered” by people being Jewish in public?'
Depends. The Star of David could be a religious symbol around the bystanders neck. It could equally be the Israeli flag. around his shoulders We have no way of knowing which it was. Though there should be nothing wrong with flag waving if it was a Pro Israeli rally with a man waving a Palestinian flag the police officer might do the same. Or even a Celtic flag in the middle of a bunch of Rangers supporters
Yes but it fits with a pattern doesn't it. Police taking down pictures of the hostages, urging pro Israelis to 'get out of central London.'
No it doesn't. Someone has clearly tried to mislead here. The Magen David which is tiny would be completely unnecessary in identifying this person as Jewish as he can clearly be seen wearing a Yarmulke which is many times bigger and makes the Magen David superfluous in terms of identification. It was almost certainly an Israeli flag that the policeman was referring to
It seems he wanted to create an incident that he could film for his website 'Fight Against Anti-Semitism'. An interesting experiment might be someone turning up at the Salisbury Rd Synagogue in Edinburgh wearing a Palestinian flag to see if the policeman is equally polite.
No bullshit about the "art of the deal" here. The Koreans know Trump for what he is.
Allies sign nuclear framework to brace for potential Trump return https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=368799 Wary of the potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House this year, the defense ministries of South Korea and the United States signed a framework document on the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a collaborative mechanism established between the two allies to discuss and coordinate nuclear policy, security, and defense.
The move appears to be aimed at expediting the full implementation of the nuclear coordination agreement previously signed by South Korea and the U.S. to strengthen Washington's extended deterrence against the growing nuclear threat from Pyongyang.
With Trump emerging as the leading Republican presidential candidate, concerns are mounting over the potential impact of his reelection on the strengthened security commitments that the Biden administration pledged to Seoul..
Off topic. But. When pet food suppliers email you on Valentines afternoon to ask what you’re doing for your beloved dog today, even I begin to wonder whether that’s going too far.
No. That's not what Man's Best Friend is supposed to mean.
Comments
Worcester for me.
https://what3words.com/tree.choirs.lateral
Wouldn't you prefer a good game of chess?
'People overwrought' 'for and against things'
You make it sound like the threat is inter communal violence based on a foreign conflict. The attempt at two sidesism is pathetic. The threat perceived or otherwise comes entirely from one side. The fear is entirely on the other. Can't you acknowledge that?
Survation today of course had the Tories up to 29%
https://x.com/BritainElects/status/1757811607306895407?s=20
Pretty chunky sized thing.
Not one mention of Conservative Party.
Every colour under the sun used in fairly garish manner across several pages except blue.
They know they are electoral poison as a party.
It was clearly less than ideal to have loads of people driving round in double cab pickups they don't really need to to evade BiK payments. It was also massively predictable that it would happen - I think I may well be the only small business owner I know who hasn't got one.
The root problem is of course that BiK on cars is wildly unfair. Rochdale rides round in his company Tesla paying almost nothing, because he rejoices in a) having loads of money to buy one and b) His use case actually works within the range of a Tesla.
Meanwhile the guys I bought my business off are about to be stung for shedloads of BiK on their work pickup trucks where the rear seats are used a secure tool storage rather than for passengers, and who actually use the pickup bed for moving heavy items daily. They also have the sort of use patterns which make EVs completely un-viable - frequently doing 300-500 miles in a day, often to do jobs at locations where there is no prospect of charging (eg water works in the middle of wherever).
The best fix is probably just to abolish BiK on cars full stop. We've effectively done it for EVs, which shows we don't care about the principle of it, we'd do better to just let people buy suitable vehicles through their businesses rather than move keep moving loopholes round.
Broadly, we have two sets of polls - High Conservative shares (27-29%) which include Savanta, More In Common, Deltapoll and Survation and Low Conservative share (21-25%) which would be everyone else including Opinium, YouGov and Redfield & Wilton.
Why the differences? Weighting, sampling, prompting, re-allocation of Don't Knows, prioritising likelihood to vote - all are possibilities. We will of course tomorrow have actual votes cast in actual constituencies in actual elections (ok, by-elections) so we get a more indicative sense.
Naturally, if it's a poor Conservative vote and turnout is low, it'll be same old story of "protesting in a by-election by staying at home and they'll come back at the General Election". Perhaps but as the saying goes, it's the hope that kills you.
The Starmer Sutra is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the politically promiscuous.
Written by the father of u-turns, this is the definitive how-to guide on flip-flopping into different positions on anything.
*Only available in paperback and spineless editions*
https://x.com/conservatives/status/1757707879484621091?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
Could have included Usher’s ‘U-Turn’ really
Labour is red, the Tories are blue, Rishi Sunak has failed, he's done nothing for you.
https://x.com/uklabour/status/1757704424640626872?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
Marjorie Taylor Greene responds to British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urging Congress to pass Ukraine aid:
“Frankly, he can kiss my ass.”
MTG is a national embarrassment.
https://twitter.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1757856690244862375
I am voting and campaigning Tory at the next election to keep Cameron as Foreign Secretary.
https://x.com/barbararich_law/status/1757798126750933144?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
No one is obliged to be objective and rational on here - what do you think about Sunak and the Conservatives? Do they deserve re-election or are they the lesser of two evils?
In UK politics only the ERG and Farage, the DUP and ReformUK and Lawrence Fox and far right parties are for Trump and only really Faragites want a deal with Putin like MTG
I have come to terms with this now.
In 2019 it wasn't just that people disliked Corbyn, there were also plenty of people who liked Boris (or at the least supported his principle goal).
I’d rather the Conservatives win than Labour & I think Sir Keir will come across badly in the campaign & debates. It’s hard to separate the arguments I have on here with how I’d vote though, I don’t really think of myself as a Tory.
If Boris were in charge still, I’d vote Conservative. I liked the idea of Blue Labour, & I think that’s what he intended to deliver, but then Covid happened. Rishi helped take down Boris so can’t vote for him either
So I probably won’t vote, & hope the Tories somehow cling on
Nice to see a bit of humour from Central Office. Wish them well with it.
What's the accessibility like? Really needs a dual carriageway to carry visitors to the cathedral.
And why even have a cathedral? This country is now secular. That space could be used for at least 20 detached homes (plastic grass to reduce maintenance costs).
Valentine's day:
First Class Tickets on Eurostar to Paris £490
Tickets to a show €300
Dinner : €260
Bottle of Veuve Clicquot : €150
Jewellery Gift : €2,750
144 Red Roses: €500
Hotel Suite with Butler : €5,750
The look on my face when she tells me she's on her period : Priceless
STARMER SUTRA, POSITION 6:
The Reverse Referendum.
https://x.com/conservatives/status/1757765026293719165?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
Israel launches 'extensive' strikes in Lebanon after rockets hit army base
Four people have been killed in an "extensive wave" of Israeli air strikes in Lebanon launched after Hezbollah rocket fire killed a soldier in Israel.
A woman and two children were killed in the southern Lebanese town of Souaneh, state media and security sources said.
A man who Hezbollah identified as one of its fighters was killed in Aadchit.
Israel's military said it hit Hezbollah infrastructure in response to a deadly rocket attack on its base in the northern Israeli town of Safed.
BREAKING: "Multiple people" have been hit by shots fired near to where the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl parade was taking place, police have said
Like usual in Scotland, the police are developing their own portal system rather than just C&P the ones used in England. I've found the police officers I've dealt with highly professional for road traffic offences though, despite needing my signature approximately 20 times per offence.
Sentencing is a bigger issue. Life changing injuries. 12 months ban, £500 fine. I'm entirely against prison sentences for most offences; this is where a lifetime ban needs to be applied: www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-cyclist-life-changing-injuries-32084340.amp
Most of the GOP in the House are a fxcking disgrace , shame on them.
Some people on the left/green side also support mileage taxation, which is just insane imo. We want to tax short, urban journeys, not long ones in rural areas.
Why?
Because it's kind of funny and it's kind of true.
This line of attack was exactly what Labour tried to dent David Cameron. It didn't work as a) they put out adverts that made him look a bit cool (check). And b) The public often don't care or sometimes even know a politician has changed positions (check). Look at Boris - who has been all over the place during his political career.
It's also about accepting reality and assuming all politicians do it. Because they do. You could go through every politician's speeches or personal remarks and find they'd contradicted themselves by advocating positions they later dropped.
There's always a bit of a bind too - if the Tories want to scare people by saying Labour are reckless profligates and Starmer Corbyn in disguise then highlighting the fact he's ditched the policies you are claiming are crap rather highlights that they've both ditched said policy you say is crap. Plus they are flexible enough to change course when they decide they've messed up - a not entirely undesirable quality in a PM.
https://twitter.com/Victorshi2020/status/1757864284519100587
It would be a bit cheeky.
I understand from where you are coming and I always thought some who voted Conservative in 2019 voted "for Boris" than for the Conservative Party which is fair enough just as you can vote Labour but not be a fan of Starmer.
I'm not sure where the "Blue Labour" idea has gone. Oddly enough, the Redfield & Wilton "Blue Wall" polling suggests Labour are getting votes in the southern marginals.
Labour has always had the tension between its liberal side and its conservative side. The re-emergence of a more socially conservative aspect, overtly patriotic and anti-migrant isn't inconceivable - that's one of the reasons why the traditional notions of "left" and "right" are outdated and irrelevant.
Starmer leads Sunak by 6% in the Blue Wall, his largest EVER lead in these seats.
Which of the following do Blue Wall voters think would be the better PM for the UK? (11 Feb)
Keir Starmer 39% (+3)
Rishi Sunak 33% (-3)
Changes +/- 17-18 Jan
@mikeysmith
If I were a Tory man in a grey suit, I’d be having serious thoughts about a May election - not to win, but as the only way to stop the bleeding.
Opposition from banks and asset managers and Franco-German tensions seen as undermining early plans
https://www.ft.com/content/34e41dcf-1b80-4084-b026-9eb4e6eb2ebe
https://youtu.be/Pa5vsa1FLKY?si=mJJERLwGJY3OaydV
Must say though, like Glasman, I wouldn’t really consider myself all that patriotic in a flag waving way; I think patriotism is a bit silly. Internationalism is quite a good concept, but mass immigration of cheap Labour doing over the poorest in a country whilst lining the pockets of the rich is not acceptable
It seems he wanted to create an incident that he could film for his website 'Fight Against Anti-Semitism'. An interesting experiment might be someone turning up at the Salisbury Rd Synagogue in Edinburgh wearing a Palestinian flag to see if the policeman is equally polite.
Allies sign nuclear framework to brace for potential Trump return
https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=368799
Wary of the potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House this year, the defense ministries of South Korea and the United States signed a framework document on the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a collaborative mechanism established between the two allies to discuss and coordinate nuclear policy, security, and defense.
The move appears to be aimed at expediting the full implementation of the nuclear coordination agreement previously signed by South Korea and the U.S. to strengthen Washington's extended deterrence against the growing nuclear threat from Pyongyang.
With Trump emerging as the leading Republican presidential candidate, concerns are mounting over the potential impact of his reelection on the strengthened security commitments that the Biden administration pledged to Seoul..