General News Thread

[Sly]

 

1 minute ago, leicsmac said:

 

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?

They are a woeful party but the fact people seem to want to vote for them on mass blows my mind. 

[leicsmac]

27 minutes ago, Sly said:

 

They are a woeful party but the fact people seem to want to vote for them on mass blows my mind. 

There are, unfortunately, several different reasons for that. 

 

All of them are based on either short term self interest, prejudice, being misled or a combination of those, but they are all also magnified by very astute use of social and other media to subvert the democratic process by Reform and those that share their ideology. 

 

For me, it doesn't necessarily blow my mind (the reasons are obvious imo), but it does worry me that so many people are either so self-centered or are being talked into being that self-centered that it could well affect policy decisions which will guide the fate of all of us.

Edited 24 May by leicsmac

[filthyfox]

35 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

There are, unfortunately, several different reasons for that. 

 

All of them are based on either short term self interest, prejudice, being misled or a combination of those, but they are all also magnified by very astute use of social and other media to subvert the democratic process by Reform and those that share their ideology. 

 

For me, it doesn't necessarily blow my mind (the reasons are obvious imo), but it does worry me that so many people are either so self-centered or are being talked into being that self-centered that it could well affect policy decisions which will guide the fate of all of us.

Long term Conservative or long term Socialist stability is really working, innit?

[leicsmac]

9 minutes ago, filthyfox said:

Long term Conservative or long term Socialist stability is really working, innit?

In terms of economic decision-making that is fulfilling for all, or even most people resulting in comfort for that mentioned majority? No, self-evidently not at the present time.

 

In terms of being just about competent enough in other policy areas to avoid demographic conflict up to and including ethnic cleansing and working on at least some of the areas that might drive that conflict in the future (some of which are rather horrible)...well, that's fairly self-evident too.

 

And yes, that described in the second paragraph are the stakes and it's a little frustrating to see so many people either willfully or unwillfully overlook just how bad things could get. Or worse, actually want them to go that way because it allows them to indulge their lust for power and abusing that power.

[Innovindil]

2 hours 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? 

Possibly. I'd suggest most businesses would prefer 2 people on 40 hours than 3 on 60 hours though. Better productivity that way.

 

Do think the policy could help sectors where skilled people are lacking though.

[davieG]

[Sly]

6 hours ago, Innovindil said:

Possibly. I'd suggest most businesses would prefer 2 people on 40 hours than 3 on 60 hours though. Better productivity that way.

 

Do think the policy could help sectors where skilled people are lacking though.

I was thinking instead of having 5 people doing 40 hours + overtime, they’d employ 3 people and let them do 60+ hours each.

 

Lowering the headcount. 
 

You’d be lowering your fixed costs, so when work gets quieter, they’d rely on the goodwill of its people to undertake overtime.

 

You could also see the model have a stress toll on smaller teams, if / when it almost becomes expected, rather than the norm. It’s that balance of burnout vs mental health. 
 

I say this though as someone that doesn’t get paid overtime! I’m sure some would welcome the change in law. 

[Innovindil]

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party between August 2010 and October 2022

 

-----

 

Got to give it to this guy, takes some skill to steal 400 grand and keep it from the missus for so long. I can't put 20 bob in skybet without my partner in crime after me. 

[Lionator]

The Ukraine situation is about to turn into an utter mess, Ukraine have no American air defence left, Europe can’t afford to pay for it, Trump obviously won’t donate it, now Russia are telling diplomats to leave Kyiv. And Ukraine have started attacking Kaliningrad by drones (why not tbf), which basically means the Baltic states are using their air space to be used if they don’t shoot down Ukranian drones, which means Russia will say Baltics are attacking Russia, which means NATO v Russia which means radiation. 

[Vacamion]

10 hours ago, Innovindil said:

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party between August 2010 and October 2022

 

-----

 

Got to give it to this guy, takes some skill to steal 400 grand and keep it from the missus for so long. I can't put 20 bob in skybet without my partner in crime after me. 

 

This.  All day long.

 

It's not like they lived at opposite ends of a castle -  they shared a modest newbuild 4 bed detached gaff.

 

If I get out different tea towels or buy new socks, Mrs Sherlock Holmes here will know about it and probably pass comment. 

 

Even if you ignore the RV and the Jag (yeah  I know), Murrell got a FIVE GRAND coffee maker and a set if 200 QUID salt and pepper shakers , and Nicola professes to having had no knowledge.

 

i think her "no comment" interview with the police will be thrown at her a lot in coming weeks. 

 

If she wasn't already done in public life, she is now.

 

 

 

 

Edit - just seen on the news that the luxury salt and pepper grinders cost TWO GRAND  

Edited 25 May by Vacamion

[StanSP]

Anyone believe what Megyn Kelly is saying about Trump? 

 

She still worked for him, no less endorsed him. But now she's spilling out all kinds of stuff about him.. 

[st albans fox]

2 hours ago, Lionator said:

The Ukraine situation is about to turn into an utter mess, Ukraine have no American air defence left, Europe can’t afford to pay for it, Trump obviously won’t donate it, now Russia are telling diplomats to leave Kyiv. And Ukraine have started attacking Kaliningrad by drones (why not tbf), which basically means the Baltic states are using their air space to be used if they don’t shoot down Ukranian drones, which means Russia will say Baltics are attacking Russia, which means NATO v Russia which means radiation. 

Or maybe not ………

trump seems intent on leaving the gulf now so he’ll have some attention span for this conflict 

[Wymsey]

12 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

Or maybe not ………

trump seems intent on leaving the gulf now so he’ll have some attention span for this conflict 

Or Greenland..

[MPH]

1 hour ago, st albans fox said:

Or maybe not ………

trump seems intent on leaving the gulf now so he’ll have some attention span for this conflict 

 

he's just authorized more strikes on Southern Iran…

[Trav Le Bleu]

7 hours ago, Wymsey said:

Or Greenland..

Or the Malvinas 

[leicsmac]

7 hours ago, Wymsey said:

Or Greenland..

 

26 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Or the Malvinas 

[Lionator]

in Europe anti-semitism and fascism is really bad until Ukraine do it and it’s absolutely fine  

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

in Europe anti-semitism and fascism is really bad until Ukraine do it and it’s absolutely fine  

We're getting to the point world wide where it's a case of which Country can get to the bottom of the barrel first

[Bellend Sebastian]

How typical of Andy Burnham to remain silent about what he would or would not do to popular TV celebrity Carol Vorderman's back door, whereas his main rival in the Makerfield by election, Reform candidate Robert 'he's only saying what we're all thinking' Kenyon has been very clear on this hot doorstep issue

[Wymsey]

Hope the airline fully reimburse the family..

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5pp4gjejgo

 

[Jon the Hat]

On 26/05/2026 at 05:18, Vacamion said:

 

This.  All day long.

 

It's not like they lived at opposite ends of a castle -  they shared a modest newbuild 4 bed detached gaff.

 

If I get out different tea towels or buy new socks, Mrs Sherlock Holmes here will know about it and probably pass comment. 

 

Even if you ignore the RV and the Jag (yeah  I know), Murrell got a FIVE GRAND coffee maker and a set if 200 QUID salt and pepper shakers , and Nicola professes to having had no knowledge.

 

i think her "no comment" interview with the police will be thrown at her a lot in coming weeks. 

 

If she wasn't already done in public life, she is now.

 

 

 

 

Edit - just seen on the news that the luxury salt and pepper grinders cost TWO GRAND  

They had a high income at the time, he was earning over 100k and Nicola more than that I guess and living modestly as you say.  She was first minister when this happened.  Strikes me as a weak man who was feeling outshone by his wife and stealing to make himself feel good.  Of course he would work pretty hard to hide it.

 

Much as I don't like her politics or her personally, she is very principled and I find it harder to believe she would overlook something like this than he could hide it.  More likely she was very busy and not paying attention and he was hiding it well.  If you take out the motor home which was kept elsewhere, none of it couldn't be hidden or justified.

 

From a governance perspective, she trusted her husband to run the party, which is exactly why it was completely inappropriate to have a husband and wife as CEO and Party leader, especially for such a long time.  This should have been obvious to her, and this is enough reason to condemn her IMO.  Ridiculous failure of oversight.  Swinney in the middle of it too, he should be gone for this.  

[leicsmac]

Tony Blair weighing in on current matters again. 

 

Is there a single other UK leader who managed such a difference in good between domestic and foreign policy that they're only (and rightly) remembered for the latter rather than the work they did for the former?

[davieG]

25 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Tony Blair weighing in on current matters again. 

 

Is there a single other UK leader who managed such a difference in good between domestic and foreign policy that they're only (and rightly) remembered for the latter rather than the work they did for the former?

Where there is discord may I bring more discord.

 

Even if he's correct making an attention seeking article is not helping his own party although as a none party political voter he sounds more centre right / right than centre left / left but then I guess he always was.

[StanSP]

Why are Labour not shouting about the huge decline in net immigration numbers? 

 

Just under 200k at the end of last year.

Peaked at nearly 950k end of 2023. 

 

I don't hear anything about it apart from on social media (yes, it sometimes has its uses!). 

 

Meanwhile Jenrick decided to blame Brits leaving as a stick to beat them with as a reason for lower numbers . I wonder why they're leaving... 

[davieG]

6 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Why are Labour not shouting about the huge decline in net immigration numbers? 

 

Just under 200k at the end of last year.

Peaked at nearly 950k end of 2023. 

 

I don't hear anything about it apart from on social media (yes, it sometimes has its uses!). 

 

Meanwhile Jenrick decided to blame Brits leaving as a stick to beat them with as a reason for lower numbers . I wonder why they're leaving... 

Even though the decline is to be welcomed, to some it'll still be to many they may therefore think it will draws attention to and provide oxygen to Farage and his Extory party