General News Thread

[Tommy G]

11 hours ago, Zear0 said:

He does have a serious problem in progressing policies so suspect there is truth in it.  The ID cards are the perfect example of an idea that was previously favoured by the majority, but when he announced it became deeply unpopular purely because it was then aligned to Starmer.  Not ideal given the amount of work they have to do over the parliament.

Well he is the most unpopular PM in the history of IPSOS polling so no surprise these murmurs are coming out. 

[st albans fox]

If the cloud cover is kind tonight then it’s likely an excellent chance to see the aurora !!!!

[leicsmac]

22 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Well he is the most unpopular PM in the history of IPSOS polling so no surprise these murmurs are coming out. 

It's just unfortunate that every viable other option is worse in terms of policy - certainly long term and probably short term as well. 

 

Such are the times we apparently live in. 

[Tommy G]

27 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

It's just unfortunate that every viable other option is worse in terms of policy - certainly long term and probably short term as well. 

 

Such are the times we apparently live in. 

I don't think that's true. Are you saying that Keir is the only viable option? Really?

[fox_up_north]

12 hours ago, danny. said:

I guess that’s a choice though, versus legally having to pay the BBC to watch non-BBC content live. I understand the complaint if people do not watch BBC. 

Just on this...I don't pay it. I don't watch live TV - my TV isn't even connected to an aerial, so no reason to pay.

 

I don't really do any of the major streaming services, either. No Netflix or Disney in my house. But I do think it is unfair to charge people who don't watch BBC. If I was interested in wrestling or paying for Sky football, I shouldn't be charged for the privilege - above the cost of the actual product. 

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

I don't think that's true. Are you saying that Keir is the only viable option? Really?

I'm saying that the policy platform of both the Conservatives and Reform UK are categorically, empirically worse for the populace of the UK as a whole in several critical areas. That's not difficult to prove IMO. 

 

If a decent counterargument can be thought of, I'd be happy to hear it. 

 

Of course, that does leave the ideas of both there being no viable options in the minds of many, or a different person from within Labour leading, either of which is fair enough. 

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, fox_up_north said:

Just on this...I don't pay it. I don't watch live TV - my TV isn't even connected to an aerial, so no reason to pay.

 

I don't really do any of the major streaming services, either. No Netflix or Disney in my house. But I do think it is unfair to charge people who don't watch BBC. If I was interested in wrestling or paying for Sky football, I shouldn't be charged for the privilege - above the cost of the actual product. 

It's a tricky one. 

 

In principle, people should have the freedom to pick and choose what media they pay for. However, I think at least a single source of reportage that is not subject to commercial pressure (and therefore not beholden to telling people what they want to hear rather than the truth) is vital for any society. 

[Innovindil]

12 hours ago, Super_horns said:

Vote of no confidence and all that for the PM?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y0z2q2g2ro
 

Or just scaremongering?

Not yet. He'll have until the budget at least. 

 

Still hard to see him lasting the full term when the reality is the labour party now have the support of 20%, or less, of the electorate. Only the proper die hards or the outright deluded still waving that Labour flag. 

 

Even their support on here is waning. 

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

Not yet. He'll have until the budget at least. 

 

Still hard to see him lasting the full term when the reality is the labour party now have the support of 20%, or less, of the electorate. Only the proper die hards or the outright deluded still waving that Labour flag. 

 

Even their support on here is waning. 

The poll numbers don't lie, that's for sure.

 

And then the question becomes how much of that grievance resulting in the dip is genuine, and how much of it is skillfully manufactured consent. 

[Innovindil]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

The poll numbers don't lie, that's for sure.

 

And then the question becomes how much of that grievance resulting in the dip is genuine, and how much of it is skillfully manufactured consent. 

Enough, imo. 

[davieG]

[leicsmac]

6 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

Enough, imo. 

Certainly seems that way. 

 

Here's hoping that future generations are in a forgiving mood regarding the decisions made as a result. 

[Tommy G]

Just now, leicsmac said:

Certainly seems that way. 

 

Here's hoping that future generations are in a forgiving mood regarding the decisions made as a result. 

This is just a riddle, what do you mean?

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

This is just a riddle, what do you mean?

I mean that a change of government to a more, shall we say, Trump-like populist one in 2029 (or earlier) will in all likelihood cause a great deal of harm for those future generations in the name of the short term self interest of a few. 

 

As I said, they'd better be in a forgiving mood, given what we might leave them. 

[CornwallFox]

1 hour ago, Tommy G said:

I don't think that's true. Are you saying that Keir is the only viable option? Really?

I think he's saying reform aren't a viable option and there's no other parties in position. Within labour there's a few I like.

[leicsmac]

Just now, CornwallFox said:

I think he's saying reform aren't a viable option and there's no other parties in position. Within labour there's a few I like.

Just to clarify, Reform clearly are a "viable" option, it's just that them in charge would be a net negative for almost everyone short term and definitely everyone long term. 

[CornwallFox]

51 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

Not yet. He'll have until the budget at least. 

 

Still hard to see him lasting the full term when the reality is the labour party now have the support of 20%, or less, of the electorate. Only the proper die hards or the outright deluded still waving that Labour flag. 

 

Even their support on here is waning. 

If they don't get rid of him it'll come down to delivery. Probably not so much in terms of NHS appointments and the like, as they've already delivered on that and it's been ignored, but in terms of cost of living and immigration. 

Edited 12 November 2025 by CornwallFox

[Trav Le Bleu]

56 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

This is just a riddle, what do you mean?

That's why they call @leicsmac "The Sphinx".

[Tommy G]

54 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I mean that a change of government to a more, shall we say, Trump-like populist one in 2029 (or earlier) will in all likelihood cause a great deal of harm for those future generations in the name of the short term self interest of a few. 

 

As I said, they'd better be in a forgiving mood, given what we might leave them. 

I'm trying to think of any short term or long term benefits of the incumbent. I know its difficult but we don't have to infect this thread more than it already is with Trump

[leicsmac]

9 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

I'm trying to think of any short term or long term benefits of the incumbent. I know its difficult but we don't have to infect this thread more than it already is with Trump

Unfortunately that man casts a shadow on almost every national level political action in the Anglosphere right now. That's just a sad fact. 

 

People can make points about the benefits of this incumbent government and that's fair enough, but if that's actually going to mean anything they're also going to have to point out how they're not the best of a very poor bunch at the moment. 

[danny.]

13 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

So long as you're not watching it live (does anyone?) you can watch any non-BBC TV channel without a TV licence.

You can watch on-demand shows and things like Netflix etc. of course as long as it's not a live broadcast.

Channels? Nope - you can't watch or record without a a TV licence.

[Trav Le Bleu]

27 minutes ago, danny. said:

You can watch on-demand shows and things like Netflix etc. of course as long as it's not a live broadcast.

Channels? Nope - you can't watch or record without a a TV licence.

Which is what I said. Practically all channels have streaming services showing the vast majority of their content.

 

You're just being nittpicky about the definition of a channel, which for me is the entirety of a broadcasting company's output, i.e, broadcasting, streaming and other media either physical or online. I'm pretty sure most people would agree.

[FoxesWalk]

About to find out if Trump is still bulletproof with these latest Epstein emails 

[CornwallFox]

1 hour ago, Tommy G said:

I'm trying to think of any short term or long term benefits of the incumbent. I know its difficult but we don't have to infect this thread more than it already is with Trump

GB Energy and a huge uplift in NHS budgets to support it's improvement are long term benefits.

 

[Zear0]

25 minutes ago, FoxesWalk said:

About to find out if Trump is still bulletproof with these latest Epstein emails 

Fake news mate, fake news.