General News Thread

[Trav Le Bleu]

21 minutes ago, Aus Fox said:

Haven’t really followed what’s been happening over there, but from what I do see, it seems like a bit of a shit show of people hating each other? Is that what it’s actually like? Or are most people just going about their business as normal?

Also why is Gary Neville doing any sort of social commentary? And why is anyone listening to anything he has to say?

UK today...

 

[StanSP]

32 minutes ago, Aus Fox said:

Also why is Gary Neville doing any sort of social commentary? And why is anyone listening to anything he has to say?

Because he's allowed to? 

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, BKLFox said:

Is china really way ahead or are those numbers skewed in their favour due to the lengths they have to go?

Yes that reads they have put in more solar/wind capacity than x countries combined but that’s only reduced their fossil fuel consumption by 2% does the UK for instance have to put in the same amount of ‘farms’ to reduce it’s fossil fuel consumption by 2%?

 

Is the goal to put in the most or reduce the most 🤷‍♂️ 

 

Not trolling because it’s great they are doing what they are doing and if their numbers lead other countries or in the case of USA out perform thus embarrass them to try and beat them in the next quarter for installations so they can have their name top of the pile for installs, then it’s a win win either way.

 

 

I get what you're saying.

 

The UK could fit into China 39 times and over 20 times more populus.

 

Lots more room to do this kind of thing and harness those resources, but as you say, their huge population means that they could do much more than the UK and barely make a scratch.

 

We do have a similar amount of coastline though. In world terms they are 11th, we are 13th and of the 12 ahead of us, 4 of them have at least twice our population - Japan, Russia, USA and as mentioned China.

 

We also have some of the strongest tidal forces in the world.

 

That we hardly utilise this beggars belief, it seems so obvious.

Edited 7 October 2025 by Trav Le Bleu

[leicsmac]

50 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

Is china really way ahead or are those numbers skewed in their favour due to the lengths they have to go?

Yes that reads they have put in more solar/wind capacity than x countries combined but that’s only reduced their fossil fuel consumption by 2% does the UK for instance have to put in the same amount of ‘farms’ to reduce it’s fossil fuel consumption by 2%?

 

Is the goal to put in the most or reduce the most 🤷‍♂️ 

 

Not trolling because it’s great they are doing what they are doing and if their numbers lead other countries or in the case of USA out perform thus embarrass them to try and beat them in the next quarter for installations so they can have their name top of the pile for installs, then it’s a win win either way.

 

 

Bit of both, I think. 

 

Also, I think what also matters here is intent. China are clearly directing a lot of effort into clean energy initiatives and it is obvious that they also intend to continue doing so until the job is done, whatever that takes, because they know that whatever the cost, the cost of inaction is higher. Something other nations might learn from them. 

[Tommy G]

3 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I get what you're saying.

 

The UK could fit into China 39 times and over 20 times more populus.

 

Lots more room to do this kind of thing and harness those resources, but as you say, their huge population means that they could do much more than the UK and barely make a scratch.

 

We do have a similar amount of coastline though. In world terms they are 11th, we are 13th and of the 12 ahead of us, 4 of them have at least our population - Japan, Russia, USA and as mentioned China.

 

We also have some of the strongest tidal forces in the world.

 

That we hardly utilise this beggars belief, it seems so obvious.

I'm sure the handful of people employed by GB Energy have it covered, don't panic!

[Trav Le Bleu]

3 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

I'm sure the handful of people employed by GB Energy have it covered, don't panic!

TBF, this has been ignored for decades during which development could have been put into existing technology.

 

Though you're probably right that the current drivers won't steer us any better.

[Tommy G]

14 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

TBF, this has been ignored for decades during which development could have been put into existing technology.

 

Though you're probably right that the current drivers won't steer us any better.

 

U wot m8?

[Foxdiamond]

1 hour ago, Aus Fox said:

Haven’t really followed what’s been happening over there, but from what I do see, it seems like a bit of a shit show of people hating each other? Is that what it’s actually like? Or are most people just going about their business as normal?

Also why is Gary Neville doing any sort of social commentary? And why is anyone listening to anything he has to say?

Can only speak from own personal experience in my little corner of blighty and despite what makes the news all calm and peaceful and hopefully will remain so

[Aus Fox]

47 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Because he's allowed to? 

I get that he’s allowed to, anyone is allowed to have an opinion.

But what was the context? Was he on Super Sunday and there wasn’t much to discuss? Or was he a guest on Newsnight and the conversation came up?

or is it just his comments on Social Media that have riled everyone up?

[Tommy G]

2 hours ago, StanSP said:

Why does he have to keep his nose out of stuff though? 

 

Surely he can have his own views and be able to air them, like any of us. 

 

I don't think it's daft what he was saying. Perhaps he could have been more nuanced but it's quite obvious what the sentiment is behind it. 

He is someone who has a voice (rightly or wrongly) and he has effectively called out a demographic of people and included skin colour in a negative way. It's just wrong.

 

My point, which I have already explained, if someone did the same with a minority, there would be uproar. 

[bovril]

2 hours ago, StanSP said:

Why does he have to keep his nose out of stuff though? 

 

Surely he can have his own views and be able to air them, like any of us. 

 

I don't think it's daft what he was saying. Perhaps he could have been more nuanced but it's quite obvious what the sentiment is behind it. 

The angry white men stuff is cringey and immediately undermines his argument

[leicsmac]

53 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

I'm sure the handful of people employed by GB Energy have it covered, don't panic!

 

47 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

TBF, this has been ignored for decades during which development could have been put into existing technology.

 

Though you're probably right that the current drivers won't steer us any better.

I think the current drivers might stand at least something of a better shot than the alternatives who don't think there's a problem at all in spite of all the exacting scientific evidence. 

[StanSP]

27 minutes ago, Aus Fox said:

I get that he’s allowed to, anyone is allowed to have an opinion.

But what was the context? Was he on Super Sunday and there wasn’t much to discuss? Or was he a guest on Newsnight and the conversation came up?

or is it just his comments on Social Media that have riled everyone up?

On one of his social media channels it was a short video where he's just explained what he's thinking about the current situation. 

[CornwallFox]

57 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

I'm sure the handful of people employed by GB Energy have it covered, don't panic!

Initially GB energy needs to build up it's supply lines by bringing new energy projects online. Once done that will allow sale of energy without going through existing private sector energy companies, where their privatisation contracts allow sale of energy at the price of the most expensive energy in their energy mix (gas). Even if they get 99% of their energy through the cheapest route (wind) they can currently still charge gas prices if any of their energy comes that way. GB energy will get around this which is how cheaper energy prices can reach the masses. 

 

[danny.]

Changing how the power bidding markets work would be a much easier, quicker and effective method with immediate effect to bring down bills without taking away from how green the energy is. In fact we often switch off wind-farms and pay for this. The system as it stands is so out of date and is crying out for modernisation.

[danny.]

5 hours ago, CornwallFox said:

Why would you think I'm in a left wing bubble? 

Your posts on here

[RoboFox]

1 hour ago, Tommy G said:

 

U wot m8?

Say what you will about Miliband, but he’s an effective politician, a decent communicator, and one of the few Cabinet ministers who - at least on the surface - seems to be doing a solid job and actively championing meaningful infrastructure investment.

 

He doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously and comes across as a decent bloke IMO. 

 

Sometimes I yearn for the simpler days when a photo of someone awkwardly eating a bacon sandwich could derail a political career. 

 

Edited 7 October 2025 by RoboFox

[danny.]

1 minute ago, RoboFox said:

Say what you will about Miliband, but he’s an effective politician, a strong communicator, and one of the few Cabinet ministers who - at least on the surface - seems to be doing a solid job and actively championing meaningful infrastructure investment.

Not sure if that is satire or not? He's a complete 🤡, he can't even follow this basic conversation, it's an extremely basic point and it's completely over his head – and he's the energy secretary.
 

 

[bmt]

21 hours ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

**** me taking the flag down of the country you are from and proud of. 

 

What the ****s he on? 

 

A sign of hate by middle aged white men is it? **** me these loony lefties don't have a clue 

Saying "loony lefties" definitely doesn't undermine your point.....

[Samilktray]

Just now, bmt said:

Saying "loony lefties" definitely doesn't undermine your point.....

I think people need to realise how silly they sound using these terms  

[leicsmac]

21 minutes ago, danny. said:

Changing how the power bidding markets work would be a much easier, quicker and effective method with immediate effect to bring down bills without taking away from how green the energy is. In fact we often switch off wind-farms and pay for this. The system as it stands is so out of date and is crying out for modernisation.

Can you elaborate on this some?

 

I'm interested in hearing more about the economic arguments because AFAIC the only such argument that really matters on this particular issue is "invest now or pay much, much more later, in more than money".

[danny.]

3 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

I think people need to realise how silly they sound using these terms  

I agree, up there will calling everyone left of Corbyn "far right" or "extreme right". Bringing slurs and ad hominems into any attempt at discussion or debate just galvanises people into ever more extreme tribalism.

[danny.]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Can you elaborate on this some?

 

I'm interested in hearing more about the economic arguments because AFAIC the only such argument that really matters on this particular issue is "invest now or pay much, much more later, in more than money".

Bit too complex for a Foxes Talk forum post but basically energy is sold off at the rate of the highest bidder. So if 98% of energy one day is from wind turbines and costs £2 per megawatt, and the remaining 2% needed comes from firing up a gas turbine for £200 a megawatt, everyone is paid £200 a megawatt, which means consumers are paying far more than is needed. 

*made up figures etc. just an example

Edited 7 October 2025 by danny.
typos

[RonnieTodger]

It’s all so depressing. Imagine telling someone from 2005 that we’d have the most incredible technology in our hands and use it to do nothing but mudslinging.

 

Look at the state of Twitter. Everybody’s brains have turned to shit. That’s if they’re not bots using nothing but AI images. 
 

What a ****ing waste. 

[Tommy G]

39 minutes ago, RoboFox said:

Say what you will about Miliband, but he’s an effective politician, a decent communicator, and one of the few Cabinet ministers who - at least on the surface - seems to be doing a solid job and actively championing meaningful infrastructure investment.

 

He doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously and comes across as a decent bloke IMO. 

 

Sometimes I yearn for the simpler days when a photo of someone awkwardly eating a bacon sandwich could derail a political career. 

 

You've just described Wes Streeting.  EM is a joker I'm afraid, how you've highlighted a decent communicator as his strength is presumably satire.