General News Thread

[nnfox]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2x7wxjego

 

Sentence now being reviewed.  Good.

[leicsmac]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y0ve18qlko

 

At least 90 people have been killed in a coal mine blast in northern China, according to state media.

The gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi province is the worst mining disaster in China since 2009.

There were 247 workers reportedly on duty when the blast happened at 19:29 local time on Friday (22:29 GMT), with more than 100 people reportedly pulled to safety and hundreds of rescuers sent to the site.

 

Well, that's horrible. 

[Wymsey]

You possibly couldn't make it up..

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8p4xgn0mvo

 

Edited 23 May by Wymsey

[LCFCJohn]

Quite disappointed in the French for suspending extra checks. We voted for Brexit, do all the checks necessary and inconvenience people!

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3p2ver9k6o

[oxford blue]

2 hours ago, Wymsey said:

You possibly couldn't make it up..

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8p4xgn0mvo

 

I am not sure whether to agree or disagree given:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/01/reform-mp-james-mcmurdock-who-assaulted-woman-will-not-face-suspension-says-deputy-leader

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgee5krdpxo

 

And don't forget Mike Amesbury(Labour) - you probably remember the video oh him assaulting a constituent:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62z9ell358o

[Parafox]

2 hours ago, Wymsey said:

You possibly couldn't make it up..

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8p4xgn0mvo

 

It just goes to show the type of people Reform attract and what the party itself stands for.  The only thing that could've made it worse is if the 60 year old had been non-white, which in a way is unfortunate as that would have heaped more criticism and dislike on this horrible Party. Or maybe not, depending on the way their supporters think.

[Parafox]

19 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Quite disappointed in the French for suspending extra checks. We voted for Brexit, do all the checks necessary and inconvenience people!

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3p2ver9k6o

Not quite sure of the point you're trying to make.

[Parafox]

8 minutes ago, oxford blue said:

I am not sure whether to agree or disagree given:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/01/reform-mp-james-mcmurdock-who-assaulted-woman-will-not-face-suspension-says-deputy-leader

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgee5krdpxo

 

And don't forget Mike Amesbury(Labour) - you probably remember the video oh him assaulting a constituent:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62z9ell358o

We're in a political mess when these types seem to keep being elected to even local government, never mind Parliament.

 

Why have our once proud political values sunk to such a disgraceful level?

Edited 23 May by Parafox

[Innovindil]

Income tax on overtime above a 40-hour week should be scrapped for workers earning less than £75,000, Reform UK has said.

The party estimates what it is calling a "hard work bonus" would save a full time nurse working six hours of overtime each week more than £1,300 a year.

Reform said the policy would cost £5bn a year and could be paid for through its plans to make cuts to welfare payments.

But Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems all questioned whether Reform would find the money for the plans.

Reform leader Nigel Farage said the overtime proposals would "finally make work pay, drive up productivity and restore the appeal of a strong work culture once again".

 

-----------

 

Like this policy. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 minute ago, Innovindil said:

Income tax on overtime above a 40-hour week should be scrapped for workers earning less than £75,000, Reform UK has said.

The party estimates what it is calling a "hard work bonus" would save a full time nurse working six hours of overtime each week more than £1,300 a year.

Reform said the policy would cost £5bn a year and could be paid for through its plans to make cuts to welfare payments.

But Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems all questioned whether Reform would find the money for the plans.

Reform leader Nigel Farage said the overtime proposals would "finally make work pay, drive up productivity and restore the appeal of a strong work culture once again".

 

-----------

 

Like this policy. 

People shouldn't have to work long hours. They should get paid well for what they do do (no sniggering at the back.)

 

This would create more jobs. For every two people working 60 hrs a week finding they're getting the same for 40, you're creating an extra job, which then removes that person from the benefit system.

 

Work to live, don't live to work.

[Innovindil]

22 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

People shouldn't have to work long hours. They should get paid well for what they do do (no sniggering at the back.)

 

This would create more jobs. For every two people working 60 hrs a week finding they're getting the same for 40, you're creating an extra job, which then removes that person from the benefit system.

 

Work to live, don't live to work.

Or, in the real world where "should" doesn't quite cut it, I'd love to work more hours without getting taxed on it so my kids can grow up with their mum at home instead of us both having to work. 

[Lionator]

Someone’s tried to shoot Trump again 

[Zear0]

9 hours ago, Innovindil said:

Or, in the real world where "should" doesn't quite cut it, I'd love to work more hours without getting taxed on it so my kids can grow up with their mum at home instead of us both having to work. 

Just lower taxes then. Not everyone has the opportunity to work overtime and it also tends to lead to reduced productivity.

[st albans fox]

12 hours ago, Parafox said:

Not quite sure of the point you're trying to make.

sarcastic dig at those who voted leave and expected no negative consequences……

[Lionator]

Looks more and more likely that Rubio will be the Republican candidate in 2028 rather than Vance and bizarrely that Harris is still the 2028 Democrat favourite. Rubio would hammer Harris. 

[leicsmac]

32 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Looks more and more likely that Rubio will be the Republican candidate in 2028 rather than Vance and bizarrely that Harris is still the 2028 Democrat favourite. Rubio would hammer Harris. 

Still a fair bit of time to go in that regard, though given how long the campaigning process is in the US I'm not surprised people are starting to jockey for position. 

 

The midterms should tell us a fair bit about what direction things are going (that is, if the gerrymandering attempts don't render them unfair).

[st albans fox]

34 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Looks more and more likely that Rubio will be the Republican candidate in 2028 rather than Vance and bizarrely that Harris is still the 2028 Democrat favourite. Rubio would hammer Harris. 

I think I’d prefer Rubio over Vance 

Acknowledging that it’s not a great choice, anyone have any informed views?

 

btw, looks like trump will ensure the war is done before the World Cup starts - could be something signed off this week if the two sides stop moving goalposts 

[leicsmac]

6 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

I think I’d prefer Rubio over Vance 

Acknowledging that it’s not a great choice, anyone have any informed views?

 

btw, looks like trump will ensure the war is done before the World Cup starts - could be something signed off this week if the two sides stop moving goalposts 

They'd both be disastrous for anyone but their favoured demographic because they'd both still be beholden to the Trump cult of personality. There wouldn't be much difference between them in terms of policy decisions.

[oxford blue]

15 hours ago, Innovindil said:

Income tax on overtime above a 40-hour week should be scrapped for workers earning less than £75,000, Reform UK has said.

It seems a great idea but employers generally pay at least 1.5 usual rate: would future overtime with no Tax be limited by employers. to standard pay rate? (A corollary maybe that when shops were allowed to open Sundays, pay from many employers was at an enhanced rate. Contracts were soon rewritten to include Sundays as part of the week.

[davieG]

2 minutes ago, oxford blue said:

It seems a great idea but employers generally pay at least 1.5 usual rate: would future overtime with no Tax be limited by employers. to standard pay rate? (A corollary maybe that when shops were allowed to open Sundays, pay from many employers was at an enhanced rate. Contracts were soon rewritten to include Sundays as part of the week.

Doesn't matter how they change the tax system the average person in the middle, not rich or poor will not benefit by any amount. 

[Innovindil]

7 hours ago, oxford blue said:

It seems a great idea but employers generally pay at least 1.5 usual rate: would future overtime with no Tax be limited by employers. to standard pay rate? (A corollary maybe that when shops were allowed to open Sundays, pay from many employers was at an enhanced rate. Contracts were soon rewritten to include Sundays as part of the week.

Don't see why it would be, I get paid 1.5x over 37hrs and 2x on sundays, I'd imagine my employer would be quite pleased if I had an extra incentive to work more hours that didn't cost them a penny, especially since the talent pool in engineering is fairly limited.

[filthyfox]

On 21/05/2026 at 16:54, davieG said:

What an absolute shit show this has been and continues to be.

....  Tories, Mate....  Tories.

 

I know Labour changed the plan...

SO

VOTE Reform

[Sly]

So reform are proposing scrapping tax on people doing overtime (as long as it’s 40+ hours per week).

 

Will that just lead to business employing less people and relying on people doing 60+ hours per week? 
 

Therefore ….. getting less tax. 
 

Another daft proposal aiming to grab votes? 

[Zear0]

11 minutes ago, Sly said:

So reform are proposing scrapping tax on people doing overtime (as long as it’s 40+ hours per week).

 

Will that just lead to business employing less people and relying on people doing 60+ hours per week? 
 

Therefore ….. getting less tax. 
 

Another daft proposal aiming to grab votes? 

Yes.

 

Also funny that they've said they're going to bring in hire and fire so even people with overtime in their contract can have that removed at the drop of a hat.

[leicsmac]

14 minutes ago, Sly said:

So reform are proposing scrapping tax on people doing overtime (as long as it’s 40+ hours per week).

 

Will that just lead to business employing less people and relying on people doing 60+ hours per week? 
 

Therefore ….. getting less tax. 
 

Another daft proposal aiming to grab votes? 

 

2 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

Yes.

 

Also funny that they've said they're going to bring in hire and fire so even people with overtime in their contract can have that removed at the drop of a hat.

Straight out of the Trump USA playbook of worker welfare. 

 

Is anyone really surprised? Or also surprised that they intend to mirror that government on various other ideas that will only lead to divisive misery, as well?