General News Thread

[st albans fox]

10 hours ago, Clogger_ said:

So, so upsetting to read about the stabbings in Golders Green. Utterly dismayed that Jewish people feel unsafe in the UK. While I hope more can be done to provide security, I wish we had better ways to tackle the vile racism that lies behind the violence

17 y o who threw a Molotov cocktail through the window of a synagogue (likely that he was paid to do this) was given bail on the proviso that he didn’t enter a synagogue.  And the cps decided not to pursue the ‘religious hate crime’ element (which I guess leads to the bail be use it’s a lesser charge ). 

I'm not sure this looks like a deterrent. 

the way that govt dealt with the asylum protests was the way you do this. Come down heavy handed and make examples of the first few charged. That sends a message to those who may be considering doing similar. 

Edited 30 April by st albans fox

[Joe90]

15 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

17 y o who threw a Molotov cocktail through the window of a synagogue (likely that he was paid to do this) was given bail on the basis that he didn’t enter a synagogue.  And the cps decided not to pursue the ‘religious hate crime’ element (which I guess leads to the bail be use it’s a lesser charge ). 

I'm not sure this looks like a deterrent. 

the way that govt dealt with the asylum protests was the way you do this. Come down heavy handed and make examples of the first few charged. That sends a message to those who may be considering doing similar. 

And we wonder why this country is in the mess it is! Shameful!!

[leicsmac]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyw3p7xv4wo

 

The US Supreme Court limited the ability of lawmakers to take the racial make-up of a state into account when drawing voting maps, in a ruling that could reshape politics across the American south.

In a 6-3 decision, the conservative justices sided with a challenge to new districts in Louisiana that were created to comply with a landmark Civil Rights law meant to protect black Americans from racial discrimination.

 

Speaking of shameful, apparently gerrymandering in favour of white people as a voting bloc is (somewhat) OK now, because equal voting rights don't mean much anymore. 

[Raj]

Over the last 20 years this country has bent over backwards to the people who are causing most of this havoc.

You reap what you sow, but i wont say too much else i'll get banned.

 

Just rememeber its not sikhs, gujuratis, chinese, Jains etc who are committing these assaults , hopefully they arent labbelese as "asians" when caught.

 

 

[Detroit Blues]

5 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyw3p7xv4wo

 

The US Supreme Court limited the ability of lawmakers to take the racial make-up of a state into account when drawing voting maps, in a ruling that could reshape politics across the American south.

In a 6-3 decision, the conservative justices sided with a challenge to new districts in Louisiana that were created to comply with a landmark Civil Rights law meant to protect black Americans from racial discrimination.

 

Speaking of shameful, apparently gerrymandering in favour of white people as a voting bloc is (somewhat) OK now, because equal voting rights don't mean much anymore. 

 

The supreme court decisions that have occurred in my lifetime make me very pessimistic that our system can be fixed through in ways that the constitution provides for.  To do so would require taking back the supreme court, and then systemically overturning the precedents laid out by Roberts' court. All of the precedents his court has made have dramatically tilted the basis of power in the country, and electing progressives that would advocate for the changes needed is now near impossible.

 

 When people in power make change impossible via democratic means, it leaves only one other option...

 

 

[leicsmac]

14 minutes ago, Detroit Blues said:

 

The supreme court decisions that have occurred in my lifetime make me very pessimistic that our system can be fixed through in ways that the constitution provides for.  To do so would require taking back the supreme court, and then systemically overturning the precedents laid out by Roberts' court. All of the precedents his court has made have dramatically tilted the basis of power in the country, and electing progressives that would advocate for the changes needed is now near impossible.

 

 When people in power make change impossible via democratic means, it leaves only one other option...

 

 

There are still some "legitimate" avenues that can be explored, but it's very true that the damage this court (with the consent and assistance of both Trump administrations) will take a long time to repair, if ever. Time a lot of people don't have. 

 

At least I hope the above is true. Because of it isn't, you're right in that only one avenue remains... and that would be categorically grim, with no guarantee of success in spite of that. 

[bovril]

1 hour ago, Raj said:

Over the last 20 years this country has bent over backwards to the people who are causing most of this havoc.

You reap what you sow, but i wont say too much else i'll get banned.

 

Just rememeber its not sikhs, gujuratis, chinese, Jains etc who are committing these assaults , hopefully they arent labbelese as "asians" when caught.

 

 

Is it Polish plumbers?

[Zear0]

15 minutes ago, bovril said:

Is it Polish plumbers?

Rudkin

[Wymsey]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2pyxpwmdro

 

[Parafox]

On 29/04/2026 at 11:35, Trav Le Bleu said:

Very. ... let's say 1930s... imagery.

Reminded me immediately of George Orwell.

[Trav Le Bleu]

35 minutes ago, Wymsey said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2pyxpwmdro

 

Drug and alcohol tests have come back negative, a spokesperson said, and the cause of the incident is currently unknown.

 

Clearly, she's insane.

 

A spokesperson for Île-de-France Mobilités said the driver was accompanied by a "lead driver" and two passengers.

 

Of course it's going to sink if it's got a lead driver.

[Parafox]

4 hours ago, bovril said:

Is it Polish plumbers?

Car washers... I've seen 'em, they vandalise cars on a daily basis.

Edited 30 April by Parafox

[worthosoriginals]

1 hour ago, Parafox said:

Car washers... I've seen 'em, they vandalise cars on a daily basis.

Best to vote brexit get this stopped.

Sling out the polish and Romanians all will be good. Oh that went wrong , which minority  can we blame next?

[Clogger_]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/29/revealed-nigel-farage-was-given-undisclosed-5m-by-crypto-billionaire-in-2024

 

Thoughts? Personally think this is a very, very big deal indeed...

[worthosoriginals]

34 minutes ago, Clogger_ said:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/29/revealed-nigel-farage-was-given-undisclosed-5m-by-crypto-billionaire-in-2024

 

Thoughts? Personally think this is a very, very big deal indeed...

Let's see if fawlty towers can or want to defend this nob.

[worthosoriginals]

38 minutes ago, Clogger_ said:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/29/revealed-nigel-farage-was-given-undisclosed-5m-by-crypto-billionaire-in-2024

 

Thoughts? Personally think this is a very, very big deal indeed...

Uk version of trump, il make myself and my grifters richer while the country sinks and blame it all on other people, while uk version of maga (roundabout painters sun/ mail readers( lap it up.

 

[Jon the Hat]

5 hours ago, Clogger_ said:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/29/revealed-nigel-farage-was-given-undisclosed-5m-by-crypto-billionaire-in-2024

 

Thoughts? Personally think this is a very, very big deal indeed...

How can this be legal?  Seriously.  Time to ban political donations more than say 10k. Including from unions.

[Trav Le Bleu]

3 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

How can this be legal?  Seriously.  Time to ban political donations more than say 10k. Including from unions.

Oh, they'd get round it. 500 X 10k donations for example.

Edited 1 May by Trav Le Bleu

[Jon the Hat]

9 hours ago, worthosoriginals said:

Best to vote brexit get this stopped.

Sling out the polish and Romanians all will be good. Oh that went wrong , which minority  can we blame next?

In Australia, the current immigrants of blame are Indians.  Australia always has a current group of immigrants who are responsible for the bad driving, lack of housing etc. You know you are Australian when you are complaining about the next group.

[Jon the Hat]

5 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Oh, they'd get round it. 500 X 10k donations for example.

They would need 500 people which might be a challenge.

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 minute ago, Jon the Hat said:

They would need 500 people which might be a challenge.

Not for the mega rich. Besides, that's just one way and the richer you are, the more resources you have to utilise different avenues.

[leicsmac]

Ladies and gentlemen, a statement from the President of the United States. 

 

 

[Sampson]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgepy0xw1nzo
 

Interesting interview with John Major, who I generally think is a very good interviewee these days. I agree that we need to start making an argument to fix the pension system, which is many many times way more costly and bigger albatross around the country’s neck that immigrants or disability benefits which get way more coverage.
 

A far bigger problem that immigration or disability or job seeker benefits is it’s the only part of the country which still works and the government spend the last generation cutting all other public services largely to fund the ballooning state pensions of an ageing population. But it’s so hard to talk about because it’s much easier to blame immigrants, or say job seekers and disabled people are scroungers than it is to reduce pensions, which are the one benefit people seem to demand they actually “deserve” despite the original idea being they would be something for a very small percentage of the country for 4 or 5 years at the end of their life, rather then for a third if the population for the final 25 or 30 years of their life. We saw that with the backlash over the winter fuel allowance- which was a step in the right direction - because politicians are too scared to publicly make an argument about the issues of population ageing.

Edited 1 May by Sampson

[CornwallFox]

5 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

How can this be legal?  Seriously.  Time to ban political donations more than say 10k. Including from unions.

Unions are tricky as it's hundreds of thousands of mini donations put together though I get your point. 

 

Something has to be done about political funding. All the noise new labour had around cash for access yet never a peep about big donations to all parties. It's clearly buying influence. 

 

I'd also suggest foreign ownership of UK media needs to be looked at closely. 

We have overseas oil billionaires funding channels that pump out one sided information, with presenters that lead parties also funded by oil billionaires, who are convincing the country that drilling for oil couldn't possibly be curtailed.

 

And other similar arguments like free ports (areas where national law doesn't apply), net zero etc. If the arguments against those things are stronger on their own merits fine, but the way they push false messaging is really not right. 

 

We need ofcom to have teeth and I guess there'd need to be another body with teeth to deal with political donations.

[CornwallFox]

1 minute ago, Sampson said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgepy0xw1nzo
 

Interesting interview with John Major, who I generally think is a very good interviewee these days. I agree that we need to start making an argument to fix the pension system, which is many many times way more costly and bigger albatross around the country’s neck that immigrants or disability benefits which get way more coverage. The problem is it’s the only part of the country which still works and the government spend the last generation cutting all other public services largely to fund the ballooning state pensions of an ageing population. 

I'd make the argument they cut all other areas of public spending to enable the transfer of the national wealth to the rich personally. There is definitely an issue of generational fairness now, pensioners are hugely better looked after than everybody else. They also don't help themselves as a big proportion of them constantly argue that they should be special cases and how much harder they worked etc, all nonsense. But actually they haven't taken from others to get their increases, there's just less liquidity in the economy than there should be because ever greater sums are locked away as assets to the super rich.