General News Thread

[kenny]

4 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Looks like VAT could be removed from energy bills which would be welcomed news. 

 

I think a good way of doing this would be for people that are on benefits, rather than the wider public. Goes back to the concept of broadest shoulders should bear the weight, I don't think many would disagree with a policy like this, and it wouldn't cost the treasury as much either. 

The only issue with that, is that it doesn't help businesses with energy costs.

 

Otherwise I agree. I guess the benefits thing is that its too difficult to administer.

[Tommy G]

3 minutes ago, kenny said:

The only issue with that, is that it doesn't help businesses with energy costs.

 

Otherwise I agree. I guess the benefits thing is that its too difficult to administer.

It probably is - I'm just thinking the majority of people with a 6 figure household income could probably go without a VAT reduction, it's only 5%.

[kenny]

4 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

It probably is - I'm just thinking the majority of people with a 6 figure household income could probably go without a VAT reduction, it's only 5%.

Might as well just up UC by whatever the average figure is.

[Tommy G]

11 minutes ago, kenny said:

Might as well just up UC by whatever the average figure is.

That wouldn't capture people on disability benefit, although I'm no expert on this. UC would then have to be stripped back if the VAT decision was later reversed when they finally start to bring energy cost down. 

[The Bear]

17 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

I think a good way of doing this would be for people that are on benefits, rather than the wider public. Goes back to the concept of broadest shoulders should bear the weight, I don't think many would disagree with a policy like this, and it wouldn't cost the treasury as much either. 

That wouldn't be good at all. All it would do is cause even more resentment from those that go out to work all day subsidizing the lazy dossers out there. 

 

However, if you mean people only on certain benefits like the higher thresholds of PIP disability, those that can't work for genuine mental health reasons, or certain means tested pensioners, then maybe I'd be on board. 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

There's "not handling the pandemic well" and making honest mistakes – then there's taking the piss out of the general public and being the antithesis of leading by example.

 

They made a litany of self-serving decisions, they weren't just simply out of their depth or inexperienced.

[Robo61]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

Just outside the top 40 in terms of deaths per capita (the UK being around 20th, Japan and South Korea both outside the top 100 for a reference point).

 

Whether one thinks that's doing well is a matter for the beholder, I reckon. 

 

 

Its very difficult to make real comparisons from country to country,  as demographics play a huge part in success or failure in terms of deaths per capta.  Comparable countries to Sweden would be Norway/Finland/Denmark  all of whom did significantly better than Sweden,  so not sure it can be said that Sweden did well at all.  Japan on the other hand did particlarly well given their aging populations.   

[leicsmac]

Just now, Robo61 said:

Its very difficult to make real comparisons from country to country,  as demographics play a huge part in success or failure in terms of deaths per capta.  Comparable countries to Sweden would be Norway/Finland/Denmark  all of whom did significantly better than Sweden,  so not sure it can be said that Sweden did well at all.  Japan on the other hand did particlarly well given their aging populations.   

That's a fair point too. 

[CornwallFox]

1 hour ago, Tommy G said:

Yes but of the very few, most had previous experience of pandemic type scenarios i.e SK

While lots of countries were hit hard, it's hard to say that we responded well given I was having meetings at work about going remote in February, when the government didn't implement really strong controls until being forced into lockdown a month later. Anybody with half a brain could see China, Italy, Spain and I think it was Iran, and what they were dealing with, and could see something needed to be done asap. 

 

Allowing major sporting events to continue in front of full crowds in march.

 

Eat out to help out.

 

Boris shooting down labour calls for an early and short circuit breaker lockdown before then having to do a full lockdown a shortly after. 

 

These were all ridiculous and only a tiny sample of the ridiculous decision making we witnessed. Boris spent far too much time playing politics with their decisions and not enough time acting like a war PM which is what he should have been doing.

 

[CornwallFox]

56 minutes ago, The Bear said:

That wouldn't be good at all. All it would do is cause even more resentment from those that go out to work all day subsidizing the lazy dossers out there. 

 

However, if you mean people only on certain benefits like the higher thresholds of PIP disability, those that can't work for genuine mental health reasons, or certain means tested pensioners, then maybe I'd be on board. 

95% of benefit recipients are in work. Then there's a tranche that are disabled or carers.

 

When we're talking about benefits, can we have a conversation that focuses on that 95% and not the 0.1% that take the micky?

By focusing on those we end up creating a system that offers no support if you or me really needed it. Build a system to provide genuine support, and then add in severe penalties for those abusing it. Don't set the system up to begin with the severe penalties.

[CornwallFox]

1 hour ago, kenny said:

The only issue with that, is that it doesn't help businesses with energy costs.

 

Otherwise I agree. I guess the benefits thing is that its too difficult to administer.

Remove it entirely and then if you want the broadest shoulders to take the cost add some sort of wealth tax or a new rate of income tax over a very high figure like £500k (they won't do that).

[Foxdiamond]

11 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

While lots of countries were hit hard, it's hard to say that we responded well given I was having meetings at work about going remote in February, when the government didn't implement really strong controls until being forced into lockdown a month later. Anybody with half a brain could see China, Italy, Spain and I think it was Iran, and what they were dealing with, and could see something needed to be done asap. 

 

Allowing major sporting events to continue in front of full crowds in march.

 

Eat out to help out.

 

Boris shooting down labour calls for an early and short circuit breaker lockdown before then having to do a full lockdown a shortly after. 

 

These were all ridiculous and only a tiny sample of the ridiculous decision making we witnessed. Boris spent far too much time playing politics with their decisions and not enough time acting like a war PM which is what he should have been doing.

 

That the football authorities not known to be that progressive shut down 10 days before the government lockdown illustrates how slow the response was. The news coming from Italy at the time was warning enough.

[ftfagos]

28 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

While lots of countries were hit hard, it's hard to say that we responded well given I was having meetings at work about going remote in February, when the government didn't implement really strong controls until being forced into lockdown a month later. Anybody with half a brain could see China, Italy, Spain and I think it was Iran, and what they were dealing with, and could see something needed to be done asap. 

 

Allowing major sporting events to continue in front of full crowds in march.

 

Eat out to help out.

 

Boris shooting down labour calls for an early and short circuit breaker lockdown before then having to do a full lockdown a shortly after. 

 

These were all ridiculous and only a tiny sample of the ridiculous decision making we witnessed. Boris spent far too much time playing politics with their decisions and not enough time acting like a war PM which is what he should have been doing.

 

We were in NZ Jan - Mar 2020. In mid February all the Chinese tourists suddenly stopped coming. It was obvious something deadly serious was going on.

[Tommy G]

1 hour ago, The Bear said:

That wouldn't be good at all. All it would do is cause even more resentment from those that go out to work all day subsidizing the lazy dossers out there. 

 

However, if you mean people only on certain benefits like the higher thresholds of PIP disability, those that can't work for genuine mental health reasons, or certain means tested pensioners, then maybe I'd be on board. 

Second option. 

 

I completely agree with your first point - I'm just trying to see the reason to give everyone a VAT break from Gas and Electric, it doesn't make sense. 

[Tommy G]

37 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

Remove it entirely and then if you want the broadest shoulders to take the cost add some sort of wealth tax or a new rate of income tax over a very high figure like £500k (they won't do that).

No-one earning over £500K will be on PAYE unless they are daft - and a lot of their remuneration will be given in shares potentially or other means. I think your principle is right though. 

[moore_94]

50 year old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after three “linked” house fires in Ashby this morning

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dynpzp32o.amp
 

I was wondering where all the fire engines going past me on my way to work this morning were going

[Bellend Sebastian]

Nathan Gill's got 10 years! See you later, Nat.

 

One of the stories that's had a decent amount of media coverage but I've heard literally nobody mention in the offline world, despite feeling pretty significant to me, at least

[Unabomber]

19 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

50 year old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after three “linked” house fires in Ashby this morning

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dynpzp32o.amp
 

I was wondering where all the fire engines going past me on my way to work this morning were going

I was out running this am and saw the smoke as it was near my house. Crazy stuff 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

1 minute ago, Unabomber said:

I was out running this am and saw the smoke as it was near my house. Crazy stuff 

 

"Out running" yeah alright pal tell it to the magistrate 

[Alf Bentley]

1 hour ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Nathan Gill's got 10 years! See you later, Nat.

 

One of the stories that's had a decent amount of media coverage but I've heard literally nobody mention in the offline world, despite feeling pretty significant to me, at least

 

I wonder if the issue will attract more public interest now that his jailing is leading the bulletins? It's easy to forget that most people pay only superficial attention to news/politics.

I think an awful lot of Reform's support comes from general discontent - cost of living / mistrust of politicians / perceived immigration issues - not from news/politics analysis.

 

The approach of BBC 1pm News was interesting. They led with the story, mentioned that Gill was a key ally of Farage, but then stressed that Farage knew nothing about Gill's crimes - in their headline announcement, not just subsequent analysis. That's an interesting editorial decision. I'd love to know their justification for that approach, as I don't recall any similar highlighting of the innocence of the party leader (Starmer, Badenoch or whoever) when politicians from other parties were implicated in scandals or crimes - a major, arguably borderline traitorous crime, in this case. The leader's lack of knowledge might be mentioned in subsequent analysis, but not usually in the headline....  Is that approach due to fear of controversy, litigation, the response of Farage, Trump or the public?

 

No real contextual analysis either on BBC News: e.g. no mention of Farage's history of lukewarm support for Ukraine and borderline sympathy for Russia. Never mind any mention, even nuanced, of Farage's history of working for Russian media....

 

I don't want to be one of those sticking the boot into the BBC, as it remains an invaluable resource, but this smacks of timidity, if not cowardice. Channel 4 News offers much better journalism.

 

 

 

Edited 21 November 2025 by Alf Bentley

[Alf Bentley]

On a lighter note....

 

BBC News moved to a news items about Ukraine.....and up came a Strictly Come Dancing backdrop. 

For a split second, I thought Zelensky had signed up as a Strictly celeb dancer. 

The world is getting crazy enough for this not to be entirely unthinkable...

[Lionator]

5 hours ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

There's "not handling the pandemic well" and making honest mistakes – then there's taking the piss out of the general public and being the antithesis of leading by example.

 

They made a litany of self-serving decisions, they weren't just simply out of their depth or inexperienced.

This. It’s funny I was posting about Ukrainians pocketing money on the last page. If any ex-Soviet state was doing what Johnson and co did during the pandemic, we would obviously call it disgusting corruption. That’s what it is. And that’s only the start. 

[Samilktray]

Over 5 years since the first Covid lockdown is crazy really. Tried mushy peas for the first time during that lockdown and haven’t looked back since. I have a tin every night for dinner to help me afford to buy a house, just finished tonight’s tin as it happens. 

[Sampson]

20 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

Over 5 years since the first Covid lockdown is crazy really. Tried mushy peas for the first time during that lockdown and haven’t looked back since. I have a tin every night for dinner to help me afford to buy a house, just finished tonight’s tin as it happens. 

I think it almost feels a lot longer. Everything pre-pandemic feels like almost a different world to me, so much has changed since. The world changes so much nowadays that there are so many comparison points to look back on. Like the Cameron government and EU and Scotland independence referendums feel about 20 years ago now to me, not only 10.

Edited 21 November 2025 by Sampson

[bovril]

11 minutes ago, Sampson said:

I think it almost feels longer tbh. Everything pre-pandemic feels like almost a different world to me, so much has changed since. The world changes so much nowadays that there are so many comparison points to look back on. Like the Cameron government and EU and Scotland independence referendums feel about 20 years ago now to me, not only 10.

We're still living the long 2016. Even Leicester fans.