General News Thread

[Wymsey]

18 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

Rumours emerging on the news/Newsnight last night that there's a rebellion brewing led it seems, by Ed Streeting.

 

Politics is so Machiavellian at all levels and in all parties.

 

Worse in many countries where assassination is a real possibility. 

Have noticed, during speeches, that Starmer etc don't have much protection close to him (like with the glass bullet-proof panels on the side of Trump when he speaks).

 

Still find it surreal that Trump was literally millimeters from death, when a bullet grazed his ear that year.

Edited 12 November 2025 by Wymsey

[danny.]

2 hours ago, Parafox said:

For clarity:

 

From TVlicence.gov.uk:

 

In the UK, it is a legal requirement to have a TV Licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel, or download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, on any device. Ignoring this law can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. 

 

 

You do not need a TV Licence to watch:

streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus

on-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video

videos on websites like YouTube

videos or DVDs

 

How much it costs

A TV Licence costs £174.50 (£58.50 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses.

It’s ok, he’s made up his own definition of what a TV channel is so it’s fine to watch without a licence now 

Edited 12 November 2025 by danny.

[danny.]

1 hour ago, Tommy G said:

Not really - if this was anyone remotely right wing doing this there would be uproar and rightly so. 
 

Starmer is absolutely on the ropes now, someone needs to lob the towel in. 

Yup, if he’s going to claim that he’s restoring honesty and integrity to politics then he needs to be squeaky clean, and he’s so very far away from squeaky clean. 

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, danny. said:

 

Yup, if he’s going to claim that he’s restoring honesty and integrity to politics then he needs to be squeaky clean, and he’s so very far away from squeaky clean. 

And therein lies the problem with power.

 

Being a powermongering sociopath is easy. Expected, even. You can abuse, lie, cheat and steal, be totally brazen about it,and people tend to not be judgemental about it when you do, because of the low expectations that power corrupts.

 

Actually doing the right thing and not being a dick to people is much, much harder. The expectations are so much higher, and the slightest transgression gets jumped on.

 

....does that kind of way of processing thought seem a bit messed up to anyone else?

 

It seems that perhaps we deserve the sociopaths and all they do to make things worse, because of that idea held by so many people it's so much harder for anyone else with power to win it, use it or keep it.

[Trav Le Bleu]

3 hours ago, Parafox said:

For clarity:

 

From TVlicence.gov.uk:

 

In the UK, it is a legal requirement to have a TV Licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel, or download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, on any device. Ignoring this law can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. 

 

 

You do not need a TV Licence to watch:

streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus

on-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video

videos on websites like YouTube

videos or DVDs

 

How much it costs

A TV Licence costs £174.50 (£58.50 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses.

Which was what I said. In fact, said same page was my source 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, Tommy G said:

Not really - if this was anyone remotely right wing doing this there would be uproar and rightly so. 
 

Starmer is absolutely on the ropes now, someone needs to lob the towel in. 

[Parafox]

2 hours ago, Tommy G said:

Ed balls or Wes Streeting 

I know. 

Mix up with names. 

 

Is Wes Balls a thing?

Edited 12 November 2025 by Parafox

[Trav Le Bleu]

26 minutes ago, danny. said:

It’s ok, he’s made up his own definition of what a TV channel is so it’s fine to watch without a licence now 

Au contraire.

 

Collins and The Times agrees.

 

TELEVISION CHANNEL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

 

https://share.google/GWVutrH7GQ6Q4WvyB

 

Pretty much all the UK dictionaries give the definition of a channel as being a station and therein all it's media.

 

TV channels don't just show live broadcasts. They all have catch up services.

 

I never said you can watch live TV, you twisted my words. You should go into politics.

[CornwallFox]

5 hours ago, kenny said:

Good news.

 

As the Tories have been funding r & d on these since 2018, I'm pleased milliband has had the foresight to keep them part of UK energy policy, particularly as they have been a formal part of the energy strategy since 2012.

 

Construction was due to start in 2025, but I'm not sure where we are in that timeline. Probably in a form of delay like many infrastructure projects seem to be at the moment.

Gordon brown signed off in nuclear reactors years ago so they could have been built by now. Whatever the whys and wherefores we finally have a government pushing forward on it which should go in the positive column for them. 

 

Google's AI search gives the following information:

 

In 2025, the UK government's nuclear build strategy has advanced significantly with major financial commitments and planning changes for large-scale and small modular reactors (SMRs). The key developments include: 

 

Sizewell C

• Go-ahead and Funding: On June 10, 2025, the UK government committed over £14 billion to the construction of Sizewell C in Suffolk.
• Investment: In July 2025, the government secured private investment from partners including EDF and Centrica, unlocking further funding for the project.
• Progress: Pre-construction work is ongoing as of mid-2025, with the project using the Hinkley Point C plant as a blueprint.
• Timeline: Construction is expected to take nine to twelve years, with the earliest possible commissioning date in the mid-2030s. 

 

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

• Planning Reforms: In February 2025, the government announced plans to cut planning red tape to facilitate the building of SMRs on more sites across the country.
• Competition Winner: Rolls-Royce was named the winning bidder for the UK's SMR competition in June 2025.
• Site Selection: The public body Great British Nuclear aims to announce a preferred site for an SMR by the end of 2025. Potential locations are likely to be old industrial sites like former nuclear plants or coal mines. A final investment decision for the Rolls-Royce design is expected in 2029, with the goal of the first one being operational by the mid-2030s.
• Private Deals: In September 2025, commercial deals were announced, including plans by EDF and US firm Holtec to build SMR-powered data centres and a partnership between X-Energy and Centrica to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors (AMRs) in Hartlepool. 

 

Other Initiatives

• Hinkley Point C: Construction on the UK's first new nuclear power station in decades continues. The first reactor is progressing, but the project has faced significant delays and cost overruns, with completion now expected by 2031 and an estimated cost of up to £57 billion.
• Fuel Production: The government has committed £300 million to produce a new type of nuclear reactor fuel (HALEU) in the UK to reduce reliance on Russian supply and improve energy security.
• Future Sites: The government is exploring a new National Policy Statement for further large-scale nuclear plants beyond Sizewell C, with Wylfa and Moorside being leading candidate sites. 

The overall strategy, as outlined in the government's Civil Nuclear Roadmap, is to significantly expand the sector and quadruple nuclear generation by 2050 to bolster energy independence. 

[danny.]

36 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Au contraire.

 

Collins and The Times agrees.

 

TELEVISION CHANNEL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

 

https://share.google/GWVutrH7GQ6Q4WvyB

 

Pretty much all the UK dictionaries give the definition of a channel as being a station and therein all it's media.

 

TV channels don't just show live broadcasts. They all have catch up services.

 

I never said you can watch live TV, you twisted my words. You should go into politics.

TV licensing disagrees with you. And no all channels do not have catchup, that’s demonstratively false. It’s super clear what a channel is, but the mental gymnastics you’re performing instead of just saying you got it wrong are impressive.

[danny.]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

And therein lies the problem with power.

 

Being a powermongering sociopath is easy. Expected, even. You can abuse, lie, cheat and steal, be totally brazen about it,and people tend to not be judgemental about it when you do, because of the low expectations that power corrupts.

 

Actually doing the right thing and not being a dick to people is much, much harder. The expectations are so much higher, and the slightest transgression gets jumped on.

 

....does that kind of way of processing thought seem a bit messed up to anyone else?

 

It seems that perhaps we deserve the sociopaths and all they do to make things worse, because of that idea held by so many people it's so much harder for anyone else with power to win it, use it or keep it.

I don’t think taking bribes or giving jobs to Epstein’s mates, stuff like that is a super high moral bar. Most of us manage to not do this so I’d expect politicians to not either. 

[deep blue]

13 hours ago, leicsmac said:

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. 

You've forgotten the LibDems and the Greens, then?

[foxes1988]

8 hours ago, CornwallFox said:

Gordon brown signed off in nuclear reactors years ago so they could have been built by now. Whatever the whys and wherefores we finally have a government pushing forward on it which should go in the positive column for them. 

 

Google's AI search gives the following information:

 

In 2025, the UK government's nuclear build strategy has advanced significantly with major financial commitments and planning changes for large-scale and small modular reactors (SMRs). The key developments include: 

 

Sizewell C

• Go-ahead and Funding: On June 10, 2025, the UK government committed over £14 billion to the construction of Sizewell C in Suffolk.
• Investment: In July 2025, the government secured private investment from partners including EDF and Centrica, unlocking further funding for the project.
• Progress: Pre-construction work is ongoing as of mid-2025, with the project using the Hinkley Point C plant as a blueprint.
• Timeline: Construction is expected to take nine to twelve years, with the earliest possible commissioning date in the mid-2030s. 

 

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

• Planning Reforms: In February 2025, the government announced plans to cut planning red tape to facilitate the building of SMRs on more sites across the country.
• Competition Winner: Rolls-Royce was named the winning bidder for the UK's SMR competition in June 2025.
• Site Selection: The public body Great British Nuclear aims to announce a preferred site for an SMR by the end of 2025. Potential locations are likely to be old industrial sites like former nuclear plants or coal mines. A final investment decision for the Rolls-Royce design is expected in 2029, with the goal of the first one being operational by the mid-2030s.
• Private Deals: In September 2025, commercial deals were announced, including plans by EDF and US firm Holtec to build SMR-powered data centres and a partnership between X-Energy and Centrica to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors (AMRs) in Hartlepool. 

 

Other Initiatives

• Hinkley Point C: Construction on the UK's first new nuclear power station in decades continues. The first reactor is progressing, but the project has faced significant delays and cost overruns, with completion now expected by 2031 and an estimated cost of up to £57 billion.
• Fuel Production: The government has committed £300 million to produce a new type of nuclear reactor fuel (HALEU) in the UK to reduce reliance on Russian supply and improve energy security.
• Future Sites: The government is exploring a new National Policy Statement for further large-scale nuclear plants beyond Sizewell C, with Wylfa and Moorside being leading candidate sites. 

The overall strategy, as outlined in the government's Civil Nuclear Roadmap, is to significantly expand the sector and quadruple nuclear generation by 2050 to bolster energy independence. 

BBC News - Wylfa nuclear power plant plans go ahead, creating Anglesey jobs - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c051y3d7myzo

 

Some good news regarding this. Government has just approved a SMR at Wylfa.

 

Hopefully we can get a few more approved soon and on the way which would helped get away from gas.

Edited 13 November 2025 by foxes1988

[CornwallFox]

8 hours ago, danny. said:

I don’t think taking bribes or giving jobs to Epstein’s mates, stuff like that is a super high moral bar. Most of us manage to not do this so I’d expect politicians to not either. 

Nobody has taken a bribe, let's be clear. 

 

[leicsmac]

8 hours ago, danny. said:

I don’t think taking bribes or giving jobs to Epstein’s mates, stuff like that is a super high moral bar. Most of us manage to not do this so I’d expect politicians to not either. 

... and yet, such things as (to use a few examples) the PPE issue during Covid, dodgy money from the other side of the Danube, and actually being a personal mate of Epstein (sending him a lovely birthday letter too) is apparently no bar to high office in the minds of a lot of people, simply because the person doing it appears to be something of a buccaneering bastard and denies and deflects from everything. 

 

Like I said, being a dick in power is easier and people let you get by with it if you can lie, cheat and abuse with a salesman patter and a smile on your face. And those people get the power mongers they deserve. 

 

50 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

Nobody has taken a bribe, let's be clear. 

 

... and even if they had, see above. 

Edited 13 November 2025 by leicsmac

[leicsmac]

7 hours ago, deep blue said:

You've forgotten the LibDems and the Greens, then?

Not forgotten, and the latest polling data is pretty optimistic for them both. 

 

I just wonder about the ability of either of them to get enough seats in the UK FPTP system, so I didn't include them as viable. I would absolutely love to be wrong on that, though. 

 

NB. I think Davey would be a magnificent Home Secretary (he actually gives two shits about people in a way a lot of other politicians don't), but I'm not sure about his steel for the top job. 

[kenny]

9 hours ago, CornwallFox said:

Gordon brown signed off in nuclear reactors years ago so they could have been built by now. Whatever the whys and wherefores we finally have a government pushing forward on it which should go in the positive column for them. 

 

Google's AI search gives the following information:

 

In 2025, the UK government's nuclear build strategy has advanced significantly with major financial commitments and planning changes for large-scale and small modular reactors (SMRs). The key developments include: 

 

Sizewell C

• Go-ahead and Funding: On June 10, 2025, the UK government committed over £14 billion to the construction of Sizewell C in Suffolk.
• Investment: In July 2025, the government secured private investment from partners including EDF and Centrica, unlocking further funding for the project.
• Progress: Pre-construction work is ongoing as of mid-2025, with the project using the Hinkley Point C plant as a blueprint.
• Timeline: Construction is expected to take nine to twelve years, with the earliest possible commissioning date in the mid-2030s. 

 

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

• Planning Reforms: In February 2025, the government announced plans to cut planning red tape to facilitate the building of SMRs on more sites across the country.
• Competition Winner: Rolls-Royce was named the winning bidder for the UK's SMR competition in June 2025.
• Site Selection: The public body Great British Nuclear aims to announce a preferred site for an SMR by the end of 2025. Potential locations are likely to be old industrial sites like former nuclear plants or coal mines. A final investment decision for the Rolls-Royce design is expected in 2029, with the goal of the first one being operational by the mid-2030s.
• Private Deals: In September 2025, commercial deals were announced, including plans by EDF and US firm Holtec to build SMR-powered data centres and a partnership between X-Energy and Centrica to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors (AMRs) in Hartlepool. 

 

Other Initiatives

• Hinkley Point C: Construction on the UK's first new nuclear power station in decades continues. The first reactor is progressing, but the project has faced significant delays and cost overruns, with completion now expected by 2031 and an estimated cost of up to £57 billion.
• Fuel Production: The government has committed £300 million to produce a new type of nuclear reactor fuel (HALEU) in the UK to reduce reliance on Russian supply and improve energy security.
• Future Sites: The government is exploring a new National Policy Statement for further large-scale nuclear plants beyond Sizewell C, with Wylfa and Moorside being leading candidate sites. 

The overall strategy, as outlined in the government's Civil Nuclear Roadmap, is to significantly expand the sector and quadruple nuclear generation by 2050 to bolster energy independence. 

Agreed. Most of that has been years in the making and the current government is continuing on previous government policies - which is the right thing to do.

 

What it isn't is Labour doing anything different or spectacular, it also isn't a sign that the previous government did nothing on nuclear power as I have already explained.

 

The pre-construction work at sizewell started while sunak was PM.

[danny.]

36 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

... and yet, such things as (to use a few examples) the PPE issue during Covid, dodgy money from the other side of the Danube, and actually being a personal mate of Epstein (sending him a lovely birthday letter too) is apparently no bar to high office in the minds of a lot of people, simply because the person doing it appears to be something of a buccaneering bastard and denies and deflects from everything. 

 

Like I said, being a dick in power is easier and people let you get by with it if you can lie, cheat and abuse with a salesman patter and a smile on your face. And those people get the power mongers they deserve. 

 

... and even if they had, see above. 

It was disgusting and wrong when the Tories did it. And people were not happy about that either, one of the reasons they were annihilated at the ballot box. But whataboutery doesn’t make it ok for any other party either. 

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, danny. said:

It was disgusting and wrong when the Tories did it. And people were not happy about that either, one of the reasons they were annihilated at the ballot box. But whataboutery doesn’t make it ok for any other party either. 

Only one of those examples above pertains directly to the Tories. The other two concern a man who is already in high office across the pond, and another who is polling high here in the UK. There are also many others I could list. Evidently not so disgusting and wrong in the minds of many. 

 

If you don't think that a decent amount of people view people with power based on their ability to charm and tell them what they want to hear then fair enough, but for me it's reasonably obvious and provable that the smooth bastards get an easier ride from at least some of the public, and that's not necessarily a good thing. 

 

 

Edited 13 November 2025 by leicsmac

[Zear0]

33 minutes ago, kenny said:

Agreed. Most of that has been years in the making and the current government is continuing on previous government policies - which is the right thing to do.

 

What it isn't is Labour doing anything different or spectacular, it also isn't a sign that the previous government did nothing on nuclear power as I have already explained.

 

The pre-construction work at sizewell started while sunak was PM.

I was heavily involved in the SMR programme and the Conservatives did f**k all with it.  Boris made a paltry contribution so that he could brag about investing in British companies and then gaslit the programme.  We had to give monthly tours to Tory cabinet ministers for years for photo ops but they never put their hands in their pockets or pushed the regulators to get a wriggle on.  We were massively ahead of other commercial rivals such as NuScale who have since matured their safety case beyond the RR SMR such that it's now moved ahead.  The support and acceleration under Labour has been massively increased.  They've been complete turd for most of this parliament so far, but this is something that behind the scenes they've taken seriously.

[kenny]

1 hour ago, Zear0 said:

I was heavily involved in the SMR programme and the Conservatives did f**k all with it.  Boris made a paltry contribution so that he could brag about investing in British companies and then gaslit the programme.  We had to give monthly tours to Tory cabinet ministers for years for photo ops but they never put their hands in their pockets or pushed the regulators to get a wriggle on.  We were massively ahead of other commercial rivals such as NuScale who have since matured their safety case beyond the RR SMR such that it's now moved ahead.  The support and acceleration under Labour has been massively increased.  They've been complete turd for most of this parliament so far, but this is something that behind the scenes they've taken seriously.

Interesting. I don't know much about it other than it's been on the news for a number of years and saw the r&d funding. Was it site selection that was slow or simply construction funding?

 

What has labour changed?

[Tommy G]

Economic growth slowed to 0.1% in latest quarter. Should be a rate cut in Dec now I suspect to 3.75%

[Lionator]

15 hours ago, Parafox said:

 

By which side?

Ukrainian oligarchs. Using the war to make quick buck. 

[st albans fox]

3 hours ago, CornwallFox said:

Nobody has taken a bribe, let's be clear. 

 

Well not in a brown paper bag …….

[Sampson]

10 hours ago, deep blue said:

You've forgotten the LibDems and the Greens, then?

Would be interested to see what happened if the LibDems and Greens formed an election pact and stood down for each other what would happen. Most polls show their combined number of votes would be enough to win, but how that would translate to seats I don't know.

 

Also whether their very differing views on the economy would be too much to of a gap to bridge to form an alliance, despite agreeing on a lot of social policy and both wanting to reject the US and get closer to Europe. I think with both parties very in favour of PR and both fiercely anti-Farage, I do think an anti-Reform election pact and then first thing first is pushing through PR for future elections could actually be feasible though. 

Edited 13 November 2025 by Sampson