A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
I would suggest it is not a good approach to judge either society by the quality of their journalists or spokespeople, though the American style grates even amomg those I agree with.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
Yuck. I'd forgotten the BBC's "huh duh stupid government can't evacuate everyone immediately" narrative we get every single time. Don't they grasp that it's hard?
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
Lyse Duvet is superb. They got rid of her quickly to normalise the Trumpian narrative. They are not happy with Starmer.
I cannot stand her, mainly (solely?) because of the god awful accent. Where is it even from?
Not sure it will be Reform vs Geeen. Reform likely to come fourth in wards in London in May and I've not seen any polling or evidence that suggests Laila Cunningham is surging as a candidate beyond her just being on the telly all the time.
Have the Tories even found a candidate yet? They risk getting lift behind in this race.
Reform have played a blinder by appointing Laila early and getting her lots of press. She presents well on TV, unlike many others in her party.
Tories haven't selected yet but its two years off. Cunninghams (unwarrented imo) shine will fade after May as she's "leading' what will be a poor result compared to the rest of England
Reform will still be making gains. That they aren't as good as elsewhere may not matter. She'll still be able to look like a winner enough.
I think right of centre Londoners will still gravitate to the Con candidate. Time will tell.
Depends on who it is, the last one was an idiot
Millions of Tories in London, there have to be some good ones?
Coe or Cleverly in front seat
Seb Coe is a lot older IRL than in most people's memories of him winning gold medals or even opening the Olympics, and in two years' time, he will be two years older.
I doubt Seb Coe would be the ideal candidate now and Cleverly may have loftier ambitions.
There aren’t many well known Conservatives in London currently - could IDS be persuaded? I suspect not. In any case, it’s a choice of London Conservative members and as we saw last time, that doesn’t turn out as you might hope or expect.
We know that Cleverly has loftier ambitions, however he's also shit, so they're not going to happen.
Seb Coe has as many business and corrupt practice issues in his closet as Mandelson and Epstein do for other issues.
He's mired in IOC corruption.
Cleverly will be Tory Leader by June if the members have an iota of common sense
Citation needed for that rather defamatory statement.
I mean, anyone involved in international sporting organisations can probably expect to be suspected of brazen corruption and not get too uppity at the suspicion, but some specific details would be handy.
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
Mentality of the people such as those who think young girls about to be executed need to be raped first so that they are denied access to heaven?
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
Yuck. I'd forgotten the BBC's "huh duh stupid government can't evacuate everyone immediately" narrative we get every single time. Don't they grasp that it's hard?
Just think if you were poor Tiegen. Her meds run out on Wednesday, Starmer needs to shake a leg.
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
Lyse Duvet is superb. They got rid of her quickly to normalise the Trumpian narrative. They are not happy with Starmer.
I cannot stand her, mainly (solely?) because of the god awful accent. Where is it even from?
She’s from Quebec . I think she’s great .
Silly me I was thinking of the other Canadian reporter . She’s still great though .
At what point can we reasonably say this has become World War III?
Greece is sending 2 frigates and aircraft to defend Cyprus apparently
Of course, whatever they can do to antagonise Turkey.
Wherever you look around the world, everyone with long standing hatred with their neighbours. 😕 what’s wrong with the message “love thy neighbour?”
What drivel . Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 . Greece is just sending help to the island to defend against missile strikes from Iran. Zip all to do with Turkey .
“Drivel”
You do know Greece and Turkey are not friends, and the history that brings them to why?
The tension is driven by several key factors: Maritime and Air Space Disputes: Both nations contest the width of territorial waters, continental shelves, and air space in the Aegean Sea, leading to frequent military standoffs. Resource Competition: Disputes over the exploration of gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean have intensified, with both countries claiming overlapping areas. Historical Enmity: Deep-seated distrust persists from the 1920s Greco-Turkish War, the 1955 Istanbul pogrom, and centuries of Ottoman rule, often perpetuated by national education. Cyprus Conflict: The island remains divided, with Turkey supporting the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, while the international community recognizes the Republic of Cyprus. Minority Rights: Both nations frequently accuse each other of mistreating their respective ethnic minorities.
I know the history thanks . Turkey continues to interfere and has the cheek to want a split of any proceeds from the gas not even anywhere near their coastal waters . So they invaded the island and want the Cypriots to give them money out of the gas reserves off the southern waters .
You don’t think Turkey had an argument for the invasion then?
Both Greece and Turkey would have a good argument that MI6 deliberately stirred up tensions in 1955 to try and maintain full control of the island. There was s good book about that, I think by Perry Anderson. It was all a long time ago, now, and thousands killed on both sides between 50 and 60 years ago, so.I think the island will stay as it is.
What strikes me today is that Grrece seems much better able to defend the island than Britain.
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
Lyse Duvet is superb. They got rid of her quickly to normalise the Trumpian narrative. They are not happy with Starmer.
I cannot stand her, mainly (solely?) because of the god awful accent. Where is it even from?
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
I would suggest it is not a good approach to judge either society by the quality of their journalists or spokespeople, though the American style grates even amomg those I agree with.
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
Lyse Duvet is superb. They got rid of her quickly to normalise the Trumpian narrative. They are not happy with Starmer.
I cannot stand her, mainly (solely?) because of the god awful accent. Where is it even from?
She’s from Quebec . I think she’s great .
Silly me I was thinking of the other Canadian reporter .
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
Yuck. I'd forgotten the BBC's "huh duh stupid government can't evacuate everyone immediately" narrative we get every single time. Don't they grasp that it's hard?
I am sure they do, but it is too easy a criticism to reach for, and impossible to defend against since no matter what is done in theory they might have done better. And whilst the BBC is often accused of being too Establishment, a cheap jibe when there are human interest stories to push will always be sought.
So it’s no longer regime change. So what was the point then?
Operation Epstein Fury.
Works for a time I suppose, I don't even remember what that dirty old bastard Clinton said to excuse not seeing or hearing anything, or suspecting anything, about his good old buddy. Given how totally clean he swears he apparently is Trump shouldn't really need all these distractions, you'd think.
It's no surprise that Reform claim the election was stolen. It was deemed worthy of the headline of the Mail on Sunday the day after a major war broke out. If it's getting such favourable coverage they'll continue to shout it.
Farage makes an absolute shit choice for his by-election candidate and then blames the electorate for not wanting some southern academic as their MP.
If Reform fancy blaming the electorate for something, the sane target is the majority (52%) who didn't bother voting. It's just a guess but I wonder if that majority includes a lot of Reform's natural constituency. Any amount of 'vote harvesting' and 'family voting' is trivial by comparison.
It is a sign of how perverse PBs centrist commentors have become that they are quite comfortable with turning a blind eye to a spot of electoral law-breaking and a teensy bit of abandoning the secret ballot, but utterly furious with a party highlighting the issue. This is quite literally how the thing that rhymes with booming bangs happened.
The secret ballot came in because before it, husbands and other male authority figures would decide for their wives and other chattels how they voted - something that most on PB would abhor if it happened in the modern era. But if it's benefitting the progressive left and defeating the right, suddenly it's all a bit of 'family voting' and 'vote harvesting' with a big sigh and roll of the eyes. Absolute principle vacuums that post here.
Perhaps I can clarify from a centrist perspective. I am entirely in favour of the absolute and enforced secret ballot. I therefore think that the postal/proxy vote should only be allowed for serious, generally medical, reasons and the postal vote so rare that it can be conducted under supervision.
Reform are hazy here if you look carefully. They know that lots of their support comes from postal votes - people who just choose the option - and they don't want to alienate them. So in place of opposing the whole thing they pick on an ethnicity related issue within it.
General Ibrahim Jabari: "The Americans have moved most of their aircraft to cyprus. We will launch many missiles at Cyprus so that the Americans will flee from there as well".
"There are no American missiles on Baghdad, I mean Tehran!"
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
Yuck. I'd forgotten the BBC's "huh duh stupid government can't evacuate everyone immediately" narrative we get every single time. Don't they grasp that it's hard?
I am sure they do, but it is too easy a criticism to reach for, and impossible to defend against since no matter what is done in theory they might have done better. And whilst the BBC is often accused of being too Establishment, a cheap jibe when there are human interest stories to push will always be sought.
Fuck me. What's so difficult about enjoying a free hotel and telling your employers you are detained due to circumstances.
So it’s no longer regime change. So what was the point then?
Operation Epstein Fury.
Works for a time I suppose, I don't even remember what that dirty old bastard Clinton said to excuse not seeing or hearing anything, or suspecting anything, about his good old buddy. Given how totally clean he swears he apparently is Trump shouldn't really need all these distractions, you'd think.
Even though Trump has been "totally exonerated" the stories about the underage girls seem to be creeping ever closer.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
It's no surprise that Reform claim the election was stolen. It was deemed worthy of the headline of the Mail on Sunday the day after a major war broke out. If it's getting such favourable coverage they'll continue to shout it.
Farage makes an absolute shit choice for his by-election candidate and then blames the electorate for not wanting some southern academic as their MP.
If Reform fancy blaming the electorate for something, the sane target is the majority (52%) who didn't bother voting. It's just a guess but I wonder if that majority includes a lot of Reform's natural constituency. Any amount of 'vote harvesting' and 'family voting' is trivial by comparison.
It is a sign of how perverse PBs centrist commentors have become that they are quite comfortable with turning a blind eye to a spot of electoral law-breaking and a teensy bit of abandoning the secret ballot, but utterly furious with a party highlighting the issue. This is quite literally how the thing that rhymes with booming bangs happened.
The secret ballot came in because before it, husbands and other male authority figures would decide for their wives and other chattels how they voted - something that most on PB would abhor if it happened in the modern era. But if it's benefitting the progressive left and defeating the right, suddenly it's all a bit of 'family voting' and 'vote harvesting' with a big sigh and roll of the eyes. Absolute principle vacuums that post here.
Perhaps I can clarify from a centrist perspective. I am entirely in favour of the absolute and enforced secret ballot. I therefore think that the postal/proxy vote should only be allowed for serious, generally medical, reasons and the postal vote so rare that it can be conducted under supervision.
Reform are hazy here if you look carefully. They know that lots of their support comes from postal votes - people who just choose the option - and they don't want to alienate them. So in place of opposing the whole thing they pick on an ethnicity related issue within it.
I oppose the whole thing. Reform don't.
I think we have become somewhat blase about how good our system is in the UK. I would get postal votes back to the need only basis. I would keep ID requirements, but would accept either the polling card (surrendered or marked after use) OR ID. At the moment postal voting has very little control over whether a given vote is coerced or not. And if you have the chops, prior to the ID requirement you could have gone out early round many polling boots, armed with names and addresses and has extra votes, leaving the actual voter to sort out the muddle if and when they tried to vote later.
I doubt the second ever happened much, but it shouldn't be possible at all.
So it’s no longer regime change. So what was the point then?
Operation Epstein Fury.
Works for a time I suppose, I don't even remember what that dirty old bastard Clinton said to excuse not seeing or hearing anything, or suspecting anything, about his good old buddy. Given how totally clean he swears he apparently is Trump shouldn't really need all these distractions, you'd think.
Clinton used a few cruise missiles to distract from what the definition of "is" is.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
DON'T BUY TRAIN TICKETS IN ADVANCE! On 1 April, govt is quietly changing the National Rail Conditions of Travel. Off-Peak & Anytime tickets become non-refundable after 23:59 the day BEFORE you travel. If you wake up & find your event cancelled, NO REFUNDS, even on £100+ tickets.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Plus war in the Middle East is part of local culture - think of the opportunities to do cultural TikToks.
Really, she should be promising the American Department of War a percentage.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
It's no surprise that Reform claim the election was stolen. It was deemed worthy of the headline of the Mail on Sunday the day after a major war broke out. If it's getting such favourable coverage they'll continue to shout it.
Farage makes an absolute shit choice for his by-election candidate and then blames the electorate for not wanting some southern academic as their MP.
If Reform fancy blaming the electorate for something, the sane target is the majority (52%) who didn't bother voting. It's just a guess but I wonder if that majority includes a lot of Reform's natural constituency. Any amount of 'vote harvesting' and 'family voting' is trivial by comparison.
It is a sign of how perverse PBs centrist commentors have become that they are quite comfortable with turning a blind eye to a spot of electoral law-breaking and a teensy bit of abandoning the secret ballot, but utterly furious with a party highlighting the issue. This is quite literally how the thing that rhymes with booming bangs happened.
The secret ballot came in because before it, husbands and other male authority figures would decide for their wives and other chattels how they voted - something that most on PB would abhor if it happened in the modern era. But if it's benefitting the progressive left and defeating the right, suddenly it's all a bit of 'family voting' and 'vote harvesting' with a big sigh and roll of the eyes. Absolute principle vacuums that post here.
Perhaps I can clarify from a centrist perspective. I am entirely in favour of the absolute and enforced secret ballot. I therefore think that the postal/proxy vote should only be allowed for serious, generally medical, reasons and the postal vote so rare that it can be conducted under supervision.
Reform are hazy here if you look carefully. They know that lots of their support comes from postal votes - people who just choose the option - and they don't want to alienate them. So in place of opposing the whole thing they pick on an ethnicity related issue within it.
I oppose the whole thing. Reform don't.
I think we have become somewhat blase about how good our system is in the UK. I would get postal votes back to the need only basis. I would keep ID requirements, but would accept either the polling card (surrendered or marked after use) OR ID. At the moment postal voting has very little control over whether a given vote is coerced or not. And if you have the chops, prior to the ID requirement you could have gone out early round many polling boots, armed with names and addresses and has extra votes, leaving the actual voter to sort out the muddle if and when they tried to vote later.
I doubt the second ever happened much, but it shouldn't be possible at all.
I would suggest national ID. The entire project to managed by the Estonian government, under a fixed price contract.
Any attempt by Home Office "experts" to add in demented and illegal databases will be dealt with by impalement and then disciplinary action.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
Yuck. I'd forgotten the BBC's "huh duh stupid government can't evacuate everyone immediately" narrative we get every single time. Don't they grasp that it's hard?
It will never beat Libya, where the press and many MPs went absolutely bananas, and yet there were already UK special forces in the country to evacuate British workers from the desert oil production sites.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Plus war in the Middle East is part of local culture - think of the opportunities to do cultural TikToks.
Really, she should be promising the American Department of War a percentage.
I wonder whether the people who are so pusillanimous here and view "victory" as a foul word would have been the same in WWII when we were fighting the Nazis? How dare we be fighting for victory?
The Mullahs are an evil that needs defeating. Now is the time to press for victory and see them eliminated once and for all.
War should be a last resort, but when war comes, fighting for victory is the right thing to do.
How many times are you going to repeat "victory"?
Look, if the US and Israel had a clear war plan to defeat the Iranian regime, maybe you'd have an argument. But they don't. They're going to bomb some bits and then probably sign a new nuclear treaty that looks very similar to the one Obama did. A lot of people are going to die for very little.
DON'T BUY TRAIN TICKETS IN ADVANCE! On 1 April, govt is quietly changing the National Rail Conditions of Travel. Off-Peak & Anytime tickets become non-refundable after 23:59 the day BEFORE you travel. If you wake up & find your event cancelled, NO REFUNDS, even on £100+ tickets.
Reducing the rights of people to claim refunds on train tickets for failed services. Now it’s being nationalised.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
There’s definitely not 20 pharmacies within a mile of where I am now, definitely not including half a dozen open 24h, and definitely not with pretty much any drug you like available for sale. Some of them definitely don’t even have a GP on site in case you need a prescription…
It's no surprise that Reform claim the election was stolen. It was deemed worthy of the headline of the Mail on Sunday the day after a major war broke out. If it's getting such favourable coverage they'll continue to shout it.
Farage makes an absolute shit choice for his by-election candidate and then blames the electorate for not wanting some southern academic as their MP.
A couple of years ago I would have expected Reform to be the ones picking a local tradesperson/small business owner as their candidate. In the effort to look professional and ready for government, Farage has sacrificed one of his major selling points. TAt UKIP he was into a "People's Army" but now he has sold his soul to American and Middle Eastern glitz
Yep. You can't be the insurgency heading to Westminster to turn everything upside down as nothing is working if most of your leader figures are elite rich types and failed ex-tory cabinet ministers.
Bonkers.
Maybe Farage deep down doesn't want to win?
The recycling of tories, particularly BAME tories from the Johnson epoch, always seemed a terrible move for Big Nige to me. He didn’t even need to do it, yet he did and I have no fucking idea why.
He's serious about governing.
With a bunch of retreads, thrown out by the voters for being shite?
No thanks.
This is a silly point. Yes. Ex-Ministers, your opinion of their quality notwithstanding, bring experience to Reform that is vital.
As they were shite at their jobs - and were thrown out by the voters as a consequence - it is a very on-point point.
Your trying to airbrush their inadequacies is what is sily.
I haven't done anything of the sort. I don't agree with your opinion - I think it's motivated by your rather facile 'wet' analysis of politics, but I have let your point stand. MY point, which should be self-evident to anyone not being wilfully obtuse, is that some ministerial experience is better than no ministerial experience when going into Government.
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
Lyse Duvet is superb. They got rid of her quickly to normalise the Trumpian narrative. They are not happy with Starmer.
I cannot stand her, mainly (solely?) because of the god awful accent. Where is it even from?
Classic Maritmes. (Atlantic Provinces of Canada). I think she's Nova Scotian?
It's no surprise that Reform claim the election was stolen. It was deemed worthy of the headline of the Mail on Sunday the day after a major war broke out. If it's getting such favourable coverage they'll continue to shout it.
Farage makes an absolute shit choice for his by-election candidate and then blames the electorate for not wanting some southern academic as their MP.
A couple of years ago I would have expected Reform to be the ones picking a local tradesperson/small business owner as their candidate. In the effort to look professional and ready for government, Farage has sacrificed one of his major selling points. TAt UKIP he was into a "People's Army" but now he has sold his soul to American and Middle Eastern glitz
Yep. You can't be the insurgency heading to Westminster to turn everything upside down as nothing is working if most of your leader figures are elite rich types and failed ex-tory cabinet ministers.
Bonkers.
Maybe Farage deep down doesn't want to win?
The recycling of tories, particularly BAME tories from the Johnson epoch, always seemed a terrible move for Big Nige to me. He didn’t even need to do it, yet he did and I have no fucking idea why.
He's serious about governing.
With a bunch of retreads, thrown out by the voters for being shite?
No thanks.
This is a silly point. Yes. Ex-Ministers, your opinion of their quality notwithstanding, bring experience to Reform that is vital.
Experience of being rejected by the electorate?
Any more people want to make the same idiotic 'zinger'?
Really though? Many incoming governments recently have cabinets largely made up of peiple without (high level, at least) government experience. Blair's lot didn't and, whatever the opinions on what they did, were largely competent. So, too, much of Cameron's cabinet unless memory fails me.
Popular ex ministers seen to have done a good job, sure. But few of the Reform intake pass that test - many current Reform voters voted them out with glee.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
Yuck. I'd forgotten the BBC's "huh duh stupid government can't evacuate everyone immediately" narrative we get every single time. Don't they grasp that it's hard?
It will never beat Libya, where the press and many MPs went absolutely bananas, and yet there were already UK special forces in the country to evacuate British workers from the desert oil production sites.
Was it William Hague, who had to stand in front of the BA plane that was an hour late taking off, trying to keep a straight face in front of the hacks as the “Hereford branch of the diplomatic service” all boarded the plane behind him…?
At what point can we reasonably say this has become World War III?
Greece is sending 2 frigates and aircraft to defend Cyprus apparently
Of course, whatever they can do to antagonise Turkey.
Wherever you look around the world, everyone with long standing hatred with their neighbours. 😕 what’s wrong with the message “love thy neighbour?”
Cyprus is under attack so of course they will defend it
There is truth in what you are saying. But there’s a bit of truth in what I am pointing out as well.
There is but not relevant in this crisis
Starmer to address the HOC at 3.30pm
In our minds maybe not playground bullying of Iran, but we are talking about the Turkish people headspace. And now they see the Greek military steaming into the action.
If Turkey is triggered by Greece defending itself, that is very much Turkey's problem, and it is craven pandering nonsense to suggest that Greece should alter its behaviour to take into account such 'sensitivities'.
You make it clear, your approach to these things will be very different than mine. I still say all sorts of “sensitivities” needs to be carefully considered in situations this. People not even born yet can kill a lot of people in twenty years time, holiday makers perhaps in terror incidents, inspired by events that could happen this very day.
Were the Greeks invited to help, by UK maybe, or invited themselves? There’s the angle I come round and help you mow your lawn, where you don’t want me helping you mow your lawn, it makes you look bad.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
There’s definitely not 20 pharmacies within a mile of where I am now, definitely not including half a dozen open 24h, and definitely not with pretty much any drug you like available for sale. Some of them definitely don’t even have a GP on site in case you need a prescription…
OK, but she can't use her EHIC card either. That is a dereliction of duty by Starmer. Get our holiday makers home!
It's no surprise that Reform claim the election was stolen. It was deemed worthy of the headline of the Mail on Sunday the day after a major war broke out. If it's getting such favourable coverage they'll continue to shout it.
Farage makes an absolute shit choice for his by-election candidate and then blames the electorate for not wanting some southern academic as their MP.
A couple of years ago I would have expected Reform to be the ones picking a local tradesperson/small business owner as their candidate. In the effort to look professional and ready for government, Farage has sacrificed one of his major selling points. TAt UKIP he was into a "People's Army" but now he has sold his soul to American and Middle Eastern glitz
Yep. You can't be the insurgency heading to Westminster to turn everything upside down as nothing is working if most of your leader figures are elite rich types and failed ex-tory cabinet ministers.
Bonkers.
Maybe Farage deep down doesn't want to win?
The recycling of tories, particularly BAME tories from the Johnson epoch, always seemed a terrible move for Big Nige to me. He didn’t even need to do it, yet he did and I have no fucking idea why.
He's serious about governing.
With a bunch of retreads, thrown out by the voters for being shite?
No thanks.
This is a silly point. Yes. Ex-Ministers, your opinion of their quality notwithstanding, bring experience to Reform that is vital.
Experience of being rejected by the electorate?
Any more people want to make the same idiotic 'zinger'?
Really though? Many incoming governments recently have cabinets largely made up of peiple without (high level, at least) government experience. Blair's lot didn't and, whatever the opinions on what they did, were largely competent. So, too, much of Cameron's cabinet unless memory fails me.
Popular ex ministers seen to have done a good job, sure. But few of the Reform intake pass that test - many current Reform voters voted them out with glee.
It is certainly true that experience is not actually determinative of whether a new government will do a good job. However, the accusation of lack of experience is still made*, and whilst it doesn't always land, a party having some amount of defence to the accusation is better than nothing.
*I recall Brown basically explaining how it was not time for newbies to deal with difficult situations, which of course meant you should never change government ever - since if things are going well no need for a change, and if they are not going well you don't want newbies.
It's no surprise that Reform claim the election was stolen. It was deemed worthy of the headline of the Mail on Sunday the day after a major war broke out. If it's getting such favourable coverage they'll continue to shout it.
Farage makes an absolute shit choice for his by-election candidate and then blames the electorate for not wanting some southern academic as their MP.
If Reform fancy blaming the electorate for something, the sane target is the majority (52%) who didn't bother voting. It's just a guess but I wonder if that majority includes a lot of Reform's natural constituency. Any amount of 'vote harvesting' and 'family voting' is trivial by comparison.
It is a sign of how perverse PBs centrist commentors have become that they are quite comfortable with turning a blind eye to a spot of electoral law-breaking and a teensy bit of abandoning the secret ballot, but utterly furious with a party highlighting the issue. This is quite literally how the thing that rhymes with booming bangs happened.
The secret ballot came in because before it, husbands and other male authority figures would decide for their wives and other chattels how they voted - something that most on PB would abhor if it happened in the modern era. But if it's benefitting the progressive left and defeating the right, suddenly it's all a bit of 'family voting' and 'vote harvesting' with a big sigh and roll of the eyes. Absolute principle vacuums that post here.
Perhaps I can clarify from a centrist perspective. I am entirely in favour of the absolute and enforced secret ballot. I therefore think that the postal/proxy vote should only be allowed for serious, generally medical, reasons and the postal vote so rare that it can be conducted under supervision.
Reform are hazy here if you look carefully. They know that lots of their support comes from postal votes - people who just choose the option - and they don't want to alienate them. So in place of opposing the whole thing they pick on an ethnicity related issue within it.
I oppose the whole thing. Reform don't.
I think we have become somewhat blase about how good our system is in the UK. I would get postal votes back to the need only basis. I would keep ID requirements, but would accept either the polling card (surrendered or marked after use) OR ID. At the moment postal voting has very little control over whether a given vote is coerced or not. And if you have the chops, prior to the ID requirement you could have gone out early round many polling boots, armed with names and addresses and has extra votes, leaving the actual voter to sort out the muddle if and when they tried to vote later.
I doubt the second ever happened much, but it shouldn't be possible at all.
I would suggest national ID. The entire project to managed by the Estonian government, under a fixed price contract.
Any attempt by Home Office "experts" to add in demented and illegal databases will be dealt with by impalement and then disciplinary action.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Plus war in the Middle East is part of local culture - think of the opportunities to do cultural TikToks.
Really, she should be promising the American Department of War a percentage.
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
Lyse Duvet is superb. They got rid of her quickly to normalise the Trumpian narrative. They are not happy with Starmer.
I cannot stand her, mainly (solely?) because of the god awful accent. Where is it even from?
Classic Maritmes. (Atlantic Provinces of Canada). I think she's Nova Scotian?
Apologies. New Brunswick. She was also lead for the New Brunswick curling team in the Canada games. A huge TV event.
It's no surprise that Reform claim the election was stolen. It was deemed worthy of the headline of the Mail on Sunday the day after a major war broke out. If it's getting such favourable coverage they'll continue to shout it.
Farage makes an absolute shit choice for his by-election candidate and then blames the electorate for not wanting some southern academic as their MP.
If Reform fancy blaming the electorate for something, the sane target is the majority (52%) who didn't bother voting. It's just a guess but I wonder if that majority includes a lot of Reform's natural constituency. Any amount of 'vote harvesting' and 'family voting' is trivial by comparison.
It is a sign of how perverse PBs centrist commentors have become that they are quite comfortable with turning a blind eye to a spot of electoral law-breaking and a teensy bit of abandoning the secret ballot, but utterly furious with a party highlighting the issue. This is quite literally how the thing that rhymes with booming bangs happened.
The secret ballot came in because before it, husbands and other male authority figures would decide for their wives and other chattels how they voted - something that most on PB would abhor if it happened in the modern era. But if it's benefitting the progressive left and defeating the right, suddenly it's all a bit of 'family voting' and 'vote harvesting' with a big sigh and roll of the eyes. Absolute principle vacuums that post here.
Perhaps I can clarify from a centrist perspective. I am entirely in favour of the absolute and enforced secret ballot. I therefore think that the postal/proxy vote should only be allowed for serious, generally medical, reasons and the postal vote so rare that it can be conducted under supervision.
Reform are hazy here if you look carefully. They know that lots of their support comes from postal votes - people who just choose the option - and they don't want to alienate them. So in place of opposing the whole thing they pick on an ethnicity related issue within it.
I oppose the whole thing. Reform don't.
I think we have become somewhat blase about how good our system is in the UK. I would get postal votes back to the need only basis. I would keep ID requirements, but would accept either the polling card (surrendered or marked after use) OR ID. At the moment postal voting has very little control over whether a given vote is coerced or not. And if you have the chops, prior to the ID requirement you could have gone out early round many polling boots, armed with names and addresses and has extra votes, leaving the actual voter to sort out the muddle if and when they tried to vote later.
I doubt the second ever happened much, but it shouldn't be possible at all.
I would suggest national ID. The entire project to managed by the Estonian government, under a fixed price contract.
Any attempt by Home Office "experts" to add in demented and illegal databases will be dealt with by impalement and then disciplinary action.
Assembly of Experts?
The main qualification seems to be more demented than the "experts" at the DfE - after every terrorist attack, they want to bring in indefinite detention without trial.
Because locking up random innocent Muslims on the basis of a Farcebook post will be good for everyone, right?
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
The vast majority of whom have little interest in an airlift out.
A great Iranian journalist on WATO at the moment. People here just don't understand the mentality of the Iranian people. I've never been there but I know most of the other countries in the region well and have many friends there. I find their attitude really uplifting. It's so much more cerebral than the moronic rantings that you get from American spokespeople. I find it really quite beautiful.
Mentality of the people such as those who think young girls about to be executed need to be raped first so that they are denied access to heaven?
... which is not the view of most Iranians.
Let us remember to distinguish the people from the regime.
Republicans in 2024: Kamala Harris is a neocon warmonger and if she's elected we will be mired in forever wars of choice across the globe!
Republicans, today: Isolationists like Tucker Carlson are just parroting the weak foreign policy of Kamala Harris, who would have never bombed Iran like Trump.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
There is something about all these people working in the low tax states, not paying UK taxes and then wanting the UK tax payer to look after them. I'd suggest any that do get rescued are given an itemised bill.
(But then I think that about those rescued by the RNLI or mountain rescue too)*
*Obviously with a multiplier based on how ridiculous the shout is. E.g. the tool who thought his leg was stuck in quicksand on Saunton Sands and hadn't even tried to remove it gets a whopping bill. The moment when he was asked by the RNLI to try moving it, did so and it popped out was genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen on TV ever.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
Yuck. I'd forgotten the BBC's "huh duh stupid government can't evacuate everyone immediately" narrative we get every single time. Don't they grasp that it's hard?
It will never beat Libya, where the press and many MPs went absolutely bananas, and yet there were already UK special forces in the country to evacuate British workers from the desert oil production sites.
Was it William Hague, who had to stand in front of the BA plane that was an hour late taking off, trying to keep a straight face in front of the hacks as the “Hereford branch of the diplomatic service” all boarded the plane behind him…?
He was being shouted at in the House of Commons, at exactly the point in time that the Hereford Boatclub were having their desert holiday. IIRC.
FWIW, the view of my Iranian friend: He's delighted that Khameneih is dead. His view is that the vast majority of Iranians feel the same. He thinks however that the Americans were fools and no good willcome of this - the regime will cling on. 20% of the population has all the guns and cannot be shifted. They will have succession planned sufficiently that this will not trouble them (though ot course will significantly trouble the individuals involved). Obviously the internet is down in Iran so he has deaperately little real news.
This matches the concerns of my Persian friends here in LA.
With that said, they are desperately hoping that the regime will fall. They suspect, however, that Trump will happily fit a "deal" with a new Revolutionary Guard commander. And we go from Islamic fascist, to Islamic Military Fascist.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
Its essentially moving as many people as the Dunkirk evacuation.
Republicans in 2024: Kamala Harris is a neocon warmonger and if she's elected we will be mired in forever wars of choice across the globe!
Republicans, today: Isolationists like Tucker Carlson are just parroting the weak foreign policy of Kamala Harris, who would have never bombed Iran like Trump.
Just as Starmer has learnt the lesson of Iraq by making sure he joins the illegal war legally, Trump has learnt the lesson by making sure he doesn’t bother about legal fig leaves.
Just catching up with D Kruger not wanting to interfere in our private life, but absolutely wanting to control how we relate to each other and have children ... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/dfe7a4ee33c46531
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
There is something about all these people working in the low tax states, not paying UK taxes and then wanting the UK tax payer to look after them. I'd suggest any that do get rescued are given an itemised bill.
(But then I think that about those rescued by the RNLI or mountain rescue too)*
*Obviously with a multiplier based on how ridiculous the shout is. E.g. the tool who thought his leg was stuck in quicksand on Saunton Sands and hadn't even tried to remove it gets a whopping bill. The moment when he was asked by the RNLI to try moving it, did so and it popped out was genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen on TV ever.
When I go on holiday, I always go for the ludicrous level of "repatriation insurance"
Some years ago, a friend of my wife's came down with a really bad case of sciatica. She had to be flown home on a special ambulance flight. If she hadn't had the insurance, it would have been a second mortgage.
So it’s no longer regime change. So what was the point then?
Netanyahu has favoured constant war. He thinks this will keep him out of jail (as he's currently on trial for corruption) and that a rally around the flag effect will win him the next election. Trump thinks he can get a quick win, as he thinks he got in Venezuela, and this distracts the media from talking about Epstein or the cost of living.
Maybe, as a secondary goal, both countries see degrading Iran's military infrastructure as weakening Iran longer term and reducing Iran's support for various proxy groups threatening them (if you're Israel) or threatening their allies in the Gulf region (if you're Trump).
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
Yes. Even those like the woman on Tyne Tees local news.
I have no problem at all when people do that but sod off when things go wrong with your entitlement.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
There is something about all these people working in the low tax states, not paying UK taxes and then wanting the UK tax payer to look after them. I'd suggest any that do get rescued are given an itemised bill.
(But then I think that about those rescued by the RNLI or mountain rescue too)*
*Obviously with a multiplier based on how ridiculous the shout is. E.g. the tool who thought his leg was stuck in quicksand on Saunton Sands and hadn't even tried to remove it gets a whopping bill. The moment when he was asked by the RNLI to try moving it, did so and it popped out was genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen on TV ever.
Agreed. Why should my taxes go to help people who left the UK to avoid paying tax? Surely they can afford to repatriate themselves.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
Its essentially moving as many people as the Dunkirk evacuation.
So why isn't Starmer sending little boats and Spitfires?
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
There is something about all these people working in the low tax states, not paying UK taxes and then wanting the UK tax payer to look after them. I'd suggest any that do get rescued are given an itemised bill.
(But then I think that about those rescued by the RNLI or mountain rescue too)*
*Obviously with a multiplier based on how ridiculous the shout is. E.g. the tool who thought his leg was stuck in quicksand on Saunton Sands and hadn't even tried to remove it gets a whopping bill. The moment when he was asked by the RNLI to try moving it, did so and it popped out was genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen on TV ever.
Just catching up with D Kruger not wanting to interfere in our private life, but absolutely wanting to control how we relate to each other and have children ... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/dfe7a4ee33c46531
I just assumed he always wanted to interfere - he's evangelical after all.
Not that they are the only ones who want to use the state to interfere, far from it, but when you have a moral message to spread it's a rare person in power who would choose not to wield it.
Spanish PM has officially banned US aircraft from Spanish bases in relation to operations on Iran.
Trumpski will not be happy.
There is already an extended dispute about port facilities in Spain being denied to US chips delivering arms to Israel, and the US has I think retaliated on that one.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
Its essentially moving as many people as the Dunkirk evacuation.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
There is something about all these people working in the low tax states, not paying UK taxes and then wanting the UK tax payer to look after them. I'd suggest any that do get rescued are given an itemised bill.
(But then I think that about those rescued by the RNLI or mountain rescue too)*
*Obviously with a multiplier based on how ridiculous the shout is. E.g. the tool who thought his leg was stuck in quicksand on Saunton Sands and hadn't even tried to remove it gets a whopping bill. The moment when he was asked by the RNLI to try moving it, did so and it popped out was genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen on TV ever.
Agreed. Why should my taxes go to help people who left the UK to avoid paying tax? Surely they can afford to repatriate themselves.
Lots of people won't be there avoiding tax. Some will be on holiday. Some will be doing work that benefits the UK economy or our international relations.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
There is something about all these people working in the low tax states, not paying UK taxes and then wanting the UK tax payer to look after them. I'd suggest any that do get rescued are given an itemised bill.
(But then I think that about those rescued by the RNLI or mountain rescue too)*
*Obviously with a multiplier based on how ridiculous the shout is. E.g. the tool who thought his leg was stuck in quicksand on Saunton Sands and hadn't even tried to remove it gets a whopping bill. The moment when he was asked by the RNLI to try moving it, did so and it popped out was genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen on TV ever.
Agreed. Why should my taxes go to help people who left the UK to avoid paying tax? Surely they can afford to repatriate themselves.
Lots of people won't be there avoiding tax. Some will be on holiday. Some will be doing work that benefits the UK economy or our international relations.
I believe most holidaymakers have holiday,insurance and their holidays have ABTA certs.
Those that do, great, those that don’t there’s crowdfunder !
Emirates will begin operating a limited number of flights commencing on the evening of 2 March.
We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates.
Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified.
All other flights remain suspended until further notice.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
OMG these people are so annoying ! There’s plenty to criticize this government on but on this not sure how they’re supposed to do this quickly .
FWIW, the view of my Iranian friend: He's delighted that Khameneih is dead. His view is that the vast majority of Iranians feel the same. He thinks however that the Americans were fools and no good willcome of this - the regime will cling on. 20% of the population has all the guns and cannot be shifted. They will have succession planned sufficiently that this will not trouble them (though ot course will significantly trouble the individuals involved). Obviously the internet is down in Iran so he has deaperately little real news.
This matches the concerns of my Persian friends here in LA.
With that said, they are desperately hoping that the regime will fall. They suspect, however, that Trump will happily fit a "deal" with a new Revolutionary Guard commander. And we go from Islamic fascist, to Islamic Military Fascist.
Apparently the five or so wing men to the Ayatollah that the Trump administration were planning on doing business with post Khamani (see Venezuela) were all killed in the decapitation attack on the Ayatollah.
At what point can we reasonably say this has become World War III?
Greece is sending 2 frigates and aircraft to defend Cyprus apparently
Of course, whatever they can do to antagonise Turkey.
Wherever you look around the world, everyone with long standing hatred with their neighbours. 😕 what’s wrong with the message “love thy neighbour?”
Cyprus is under attack so of course they will defend it
There is truth in what you are saying. But there’s a bit of truth in what I am pointing out as well.
There is but not relevant in this crisis
Starmer to address the HOC at 3.30pm
In our minds maybe not playground bullying of Iran, but we are talking about the Turkish people headspace. And now they see the Greek military steaming into the action.
If Turkey is triggered by Greece defending itself, that is very much Turkey's problem, and it is craven pandering nonsense to suggest that Greece should alter its behaviour to take into account such 'sensitivities'.
You make it clear, your approach to these things will be very different than mine. I still say all sorts of “sensitivities” needs to be carefully considered in situations this. People not even born yet can kill a lot of people in twenty years time, holiday makers perhaps in terror incidents, inspired by events that could happen this very day.
Were the Greeks invited to help, by UK maybe, or invited themselves? There’s the angle I come round and help you mow your lawn, where you don’t want me helping you mow your lawn, it makes you look bad.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
In 1945 Cyprus was fairly peaceful. In 1955. MI6 decided two destabilisations, one between Greeks and Turks in Istanbul, and one in Cyprus itself, to provide a pretext for holding off Cypriot independence as the stabilising guarantor power, would be a good idea
In Istanbul, large numbers of Greeks were killed, and an ancient community came to an end, as the rest fled.
In Cyprus it set off a decade of Greek -Cypriot militancy which eventually precipitated a Turkish invasion, and a sum total of thousands killed on. either side, by 1974. There are no shining innocents in the Cyprus story, and Britain, MI6, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, as well as various governments in Greece and Turkey at those times, probably bear an equal share of the responsibility.
I can't see that all that history is any reason for the Greek government not to send help today.to defend the Greek side from Hezbollah rockets, though,: and it certainly shouldn't have to ask Turkey's permission to do that first.
URGENT | Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to CNN: We are not responsible for the bombing of Saudi oil fields and we have informed our brothers in the Kingdom of that.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
Its essentially moving as many people as the Dunkirk evacuation.
So why isn't Starmer sending little boats and Spitfires?
At the very least they should be sending a Red Cross Medical parcel to poor Teigen holed up in the Sheraton.
URGENT | Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to CNN: We are not responsible for the bombing of Saudi oil fields and we have informed our brothers in the Kingdom of that.
So who bombed them then ? Who has the motivation ? The Israelis as a false flag. Bit far fetched.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
Its essentially moving as many people as the Dunkirk evacuation.
Most of whom aren't planning to go anywhere.
Quite. The media seem to think they all want moving ASAP while our very own sand pit reporter suggests that is not the case.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
OMG these people are so annoying ! There’s plenty to criticize this government on but on this not sure how they’re supposed to do this quickly .
Strap them to the floor of an A400M. If these people are that keen to get out, I'm sure they won't object.
FWIW, the view of my Iranian friend: He's delighted that Khameneih is dead. His view is that the vast majority of Iranians feel the same. He thinks however that the Americans were fools and no good willcome of this - the regime will cling on. 20% of the population has all the guns and cannot be shifted. They will have succession planned sufficiently that this will not trouble them (though ot course will significantly trouble the individuals involved). Obviously the internet is down in Iran so he has deaperately little real news.
This matches the concerns of my Persian friends here in LA.
With that said, they are desperately hoping that the regime will fall. They suspect, however, that Trump will happily fit a "deal" with a new Revolutionary Guard commander. And we go from Islamic fascist, to Islamic Military Fascist.
Trump has without any moral or legal authority already offered the IRGC and Army "complete immunity", so it's seems quite obvious that he is willing to do a deal that would allow the regime to continue within certain parameters. i.e. Don't threaten Israel, do give the US access to your oil.
Just catching up with D Kruger not wanting to interfere in our private life, but absolutely wanting to control how we relate to each other and have children ... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/dfe7a4ee33c46531
I thought buns in the oven was his mother's department.
At what point can we reasonably say this has become World War III?
Greece is sending 2 frigates and aircraft to defend Cyprus apparently
Of course, whatever they can do to antagonise Turkey.
Wherever you look around the world, everyone with long standing hatred with their neighbours. 😕 what’s wrong with the message “love thy neighbour?”
Cyprus is under attack so of course they will defend it
There is truth in what you are saying. But there’s a bit of truth in what I am pointing out as well.
There is but not relevant in this crisis
Starmer to address the HOC at 3.30pm
In our minds maybe not playground bullying of Iran, but we are talking about the Turkish people headspace. And now they see the Greek military steaming into the action.
If Turkey is triggered by Greece defending itself, that is very much Turkey's problem, and it is craven pandering nonsense to suggest that Greece should alter its behaviour to take into account such 'sensitivities'.
You make it clear, your approach to these things will be very different than mine. I still say all sorts of “sensitivities” needs to be carefully considered in situations this. People not even born yet can kill a lot of people in twenty years time, holiday makers perhaps in terror incidents, inspired by events that could happen this very day.
Were the Greeks invited to help, by UK maybe, or invited themselves? There’s the angle I come round and help you mow your lawn, where you don’t want me helping you mow your lawn, it makes you look bad.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Are you still going on about this .
The Greeks are simply helping their close neighbour to shoot down any incoming missiles . Do you seriously think Turkey is going to be upset by this ?
URGENT | Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to CNN: We are not responsible for the bombing of Saudi oil fields and we have informed our brothers in the Kingdom of that.
So who bombed them then ? Who has the motivation ? The Israelis as a false flag. Bit far fetched.
The obvious answer is that the US bombed them thinking that they were over Iran
URGENT | Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to CNN: We are not responsible for the bombing of Saudi oil fields and we have informed our brothers in the Kingdom of that.
So who bombed them then ? Who has the motivation ? The Israelis as a false flag. Bit far fetched.
Bits of the regime distancing themselves from others?
URGENT | Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to CNN: We are not responsible for the bombing of Saudi oil fields and we have informed our brothers in the Kingdom of that.
URGENT | Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to CNN: We are not responsible for the bombing of Saudi oil fields and we have informed our brothers in the Kingdom of that.
BBC WATO not impressed that emergency evacuation hasn't been scrambled yet. Poor Tiegen from Northern Ireland only went to a Dubai for a shopping trip and isn't very happy that Starmer hasn't got her out yet.
LOL.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
Her meds run out on Wednesday and I believe all the pharmacies have closed down in the 20 years since I was last there. She has to stay in her small hotel room because her family don't want her venturing out amongst the fire and fury.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
Morbidly obese woman on Tyne Tees local news, moved to the UAE to work a few years back, whining that the govt can’t repatriate her.
Worlds smallest violin time.
So ITV are as furious as the BBC at Starmer's failure to airlift 300,000 Brits out of the Greater Gulf area.
Its essentially moving as many people as the Dunkirk evacuation.
Most of whom aren't planning to go anywhere.
Quite. The media seem to think they all want moving ASAP while our very on sand pit reporter suggests that is not the case.
TBF there’s thousands on holiday here, and likely thousands more who got stuck in transit when the airspace shut.
There’s definitely no sense among the expat resident community of any willingness to leave, most of us have jobs to go to.
URGENT | Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to CNN: We are not responsible for the bombing of Saudi oil fields and we have informed our brothers in the Kingdom of that.
So who bombed them then ? Who has the motivation ? The Israelis as a false flag. Bit far fetched.
Or Iranian command and control is disintegrating and it's a rogue element.
So it’s no longer regime change. So what was the point then?
Netanyahu has favoured constant war. He thinks this will keep him out of jail (as he's currently on trial for corruption) and that a rally around the flag effect will win him the next election. Trump thinks he can get a quick win, as he thinks he got in Venezuela, and this distracts the media from talking about Epstein or the cost of living.
Maybe, as a secondary goal, both countries see degrading Iran's military infrastructure as weakening Iran longer term and reducing Iran's support for various proxy groups threatening them (if you're Israel) or threatening their allies in the Gulf region (if you're Trump).
“both countries see degrading Iran's military infrastructure as weakening Iran longer term and reducing Iran's support for various proxy groups threatening them (if you're Israel) or threatening their allies in the Gulf region (if you're Trump)”
Agree. I think this war will help Bibi stay in power and out of jail. Israel election will happen in October if not called before.
I’m not sure exactly the same outcome helps Trump nearly as much in US Autumn election. However, I’ll add that not just the Israeli’s being influential on US policy, I sense Saudis like minded with Israel on Iran, and the Saudis can have big influence on the Trump Administration thinking about Iran nuclear deals and support for terrorist proxies, and that could have pulled Trump into this, not the same thoughts as Bibi as political survival.
I am way out of my league joining in PB war mode, so correct me if I get anything wrong, but I have idea the Iranian terror proxies take form of a modern cammora approach, so not so easily decapitated?
I have recently left the middle east and have many friends still there. Not one single one is considering leaving. It is only the short term tourists who are concerned - nearer 3,000 than 300,000.
Comments
Silly me I was thinking of the other Canadian reporter . She’s still great though .
Iran has already been considerably damaged, leading now to hopefully Lebanon finally being able to rid itself of the curse of Hezbollah.
The more damage that can be inflicted the better. Hopefully though its lies and they continue regime change occurs.
Reform are hazy here if you look carefully. They know that lots of their support comes from postal votes - people who just choose the option - and they don't want to alienate them. So in place of opposing the whole thing they pick on an ethnicity related issue within it.
I oppose the whole thing. Reform don't.
The malls are still open and less busy than usual, what more does she want?
I know the situation in the Middle East is worrying for British people in the region, and at home.
It’s my duty as Prime Minister to keep British people safe.
I will be answering questions on the steps we took over the weekend in Parliament. Watch at 3:30pm.
Lebanese PM bans Hezbollah’s military activities after attack on Israel
Nawaf Salam says all Hezbollah activities are ‘illegal’ after the group launched attacks on Israel from Lebanon.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/2/lebanese-pm-nawaf-salam-announces-ban-on-hezbollah-military-activities
Spanish PM has officially banned US aircraft from Spanish bases in relation to operations on Iran.
I doubt the second ever happened much, but it shouldn't be possible at all.
See also https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120885/
It's all been done before.
Why hasn't Starmer got you all out yet? Doesn't he care?
https://x.com/seatsixtyone/status/2028396921602134393
DON'T BUY TRAIN TICKETS IN ADVANCE!
On 1 April, govt is quietly changing the National Rail Conditions of Travel.
Off-Peak & Anytime tickets become non-refundable after 23:59 the day BEFORE you travel.
If you wake up & find your event cancelled, NO REFUNDS, even on £100+ tickets.
Really, she should be promising the American Department of War a percentage.
Worlds smallest violin time.
Any attempt by Home Office "experts" to add in demented and illegal databases will be dealt with by impalement and then disciplinary action.
https://x.com/cobratate/status/2028224006160351551?s=61
Look, if the US and Israel had a clear war plan to defeat the Iranian regime, maybe you'd have an argument. But they don't. They're going to bomb some bits and then probably sign a new nuclear treaty that looks very similar to the one Obama did. A lot of people are going to die for very little.
I think she's Nova Scotian?
Popular ex ministers seen to have done a good job, sure. But few of the Reform intake pass that test - many current Reform voters voted them out with glee.
Were the Greeks invited to help, by UK maybe, or invited themselves? There’s the angle I come round and help you mow your lawn, where you don’t want me helping you mow your lawn, it makes you look bad.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
*I recall Brown basically explaining how it was not time for newbies to deal with difficult situations, which of course meant you should never change government ever - since if things are going well no need for a change, and if they are not going well you don't want newbies.
She was also lead for the New Brunswick curling team in the Canada games.
A huge TV event.
Because locking up random innocent Muslims on the basis of a Farcebook post will be good for everyone, right?
Let us remember to distinguish the people from the regime.
Republicans in 2024: Kamala Harris is a neocon warmonger and if she's elected we will be mired in forever wars of choice across the globe!
Republicans, today: Isolationists like Tucker Carlson are just parroting the weak foreign policy of Kamala Harris, who would have never bombed Iran like Trump.
https://bsky.app/profile/justinbaragona.bsky.social/post/3mg3gmhyq222e
(But then I think that about those rescued by the RNLI or mountain rescue too)*
*Obviously with a multiplier based on how ridiculous the shout is. E.g. the tool who thought his leg was stuck in quicksand on Saunton Sands and hadn't even tried to remove it gets a whopping bill. The moment when he was asked by the RNLI to try moving it, did so and it popped out was genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen on TV ever.
With that said, they are desperately hoping that the regime will fall. They suspect, however, that Trump will happily fit a "deal" with a new Revolutionary Guard commander. And we go from Islamic fascist, to Islamic Military Fascist.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/dfe7a4ee33c46531
Some years ago, a friend of my wife's came down with a really bad case of sciatica. She had to be flown home on a special ambulance flight. If she hadn't had the insurance, it would have been a second mortgage.
Maybe, as a secondary goal, both countries see degrading Iran's military infrastructure as weakening Iran longer term and reducing Iran's support for various proxy groups threatening them (if you're Israel) or threatening their allies in the Gulf region (if you're Trump).
I have no problem at all when people do that but sod off when things go wrong with your entitlement.
Holidaymakers should be covered by insurance.
I agree with your first paragraph completely.
Not that they are the only ones who want to use the state to interfere, far from it, but when you have a moral message to spread it's a rare person in power who would choose not to wield it.
There is already an extended dispute about port facilities in Spain being denied to US chips delivering arms to Israel, and the US has I think retaliated on that one.
https://x.com/moisaudiarabia/status/2028456509026238512
The Ministry confirms:
The security situation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is reassuring.
Those that do, great, those that don’t there’s crowdfunder !
https://x.com/emiratessupport/status/2028470859187523783
Emirates will begin operating a limited number of flights commencing on the evening of 2 March.
We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates.
Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified.
All other flights remain suspended until further notice.
In Istanbul, large numbers of Greeks were killed, and an ancient community came to an end, as the rest fled.
In Cyprus it set off a decade of Greek -Cypriot militancy which eventually precipitated a Turkish invasion, and a sum total of thousands killed on. either side, by 1974. There are no shining innocents in the Cyprus story, and Britain, MI6, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, as well as various governments in Greece and Turkey at those times, probably bear an equal share of the responsibility.
I can't see that all that history is any reason for the Greek government not to send help today.to defend the Greek side from Hezbollah rockets, though,: and it certainly shouldn't have to ask Turkey's permission to do that first.
URGENT | Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to CNN: We are not responsible for the bombing of Saudi oil fields and we have informed our brothers in the Kingdom of that.
The Greeks are simply helping their close neighbour to shoot down any incoming missiles . Do you seriously think Turkey is going to be upset by this ?
There’s definitely no sense among the expat resident community of any willingness to leave, most of us have jobs to go to.
Agree. I think this war will help Bibi stay in power and out of jail. Israel election will happen in October if not called before.
I’m not sure exactly the same outcome helps Trump nearly as much in US Autumn election. However, I’ll add that not just the Israeli’s being influential on US policy, I sense Saudis like minded with Israel on Iran, and the Saudis can have big influence on the Trump Administration thinking about Iran nuclear deals and support for terrorist proxies, and that could have pulled Trump into this, not the same thoughts as Bibi as political survival.
I am way out of my league joining in PB war mode, so correct me if I get anything wrong, but I have idea the Iranian terror proxies take form of a modern cammora approach, so not so easily decapitated?