General News Thread

[Trav Le Bleu]

51 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I think civil war could only be brought about by that genuine threat or actual act of secession. And those themselves would only likely be brought about if enough people in those states knew, or it was proven, that the current administration had rigged things so that the electoral route to get rid of them would no longer work. 

 

And that, scarily enough, is enough of a nonzero possibility to at least think about. But we'll only know more about that later this year when the midterms come up.

 

 

This was my thinking, the midterms. Trump loses heavily and refuses to acknowledge it.

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

This was my thinking, the midterms. Trump loses heavily and refuses to acknowledge it.

Or puts in play measures beforehand that clearly and obviously seek to ensure he doesn't lose. 

 

Either one is a possibility. 

 

The hopeful thing is, however, recent and other events have shown that when things go really in his face and a situation is truly untenable, he does often back down. Presumably for reasons of self preservation. 

[leicsmac]

In more local news, Starmer and a delegation are headed for China today. 

 

It will be interesting to see what angle is played by both parties given the current geopolitical situation. 

[Lionator]

2 hours ago, leicsmac said:

In more local news, Starmer and a delegation are headed for China today. 

 

It will be interesting to see what angle is played by both parties given the current geopolitical situation. 

Looks like he’s going full on Carney. Which I think is the right approach but will upset a lot of people. Geopolitically China is no threat to the UK. 
 

 

Edited 28 January by Lionator

[The Bear]

5 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Anyone think there's any chance of a civil war breaking out there? It's almost like a civil 'cold' war at the moment. Would some of the western and northern states want to cede from the US?

Civil War will never happen. At least no more than a token show of arms and unrest that would quickly be shot down (literally). 

 

It's not the 1860s any more. And the federal government holds too much power over the individual states to ever let them secede unless they allowed them to. 

 

Late last year I learned all about the US Civil War as it was a large gap in my knowledge. And back then it took several southern states all banding together and a united population in those states having their livelihoods and way of life threatened to cause a legitimate fight for power to rule themselves individually.

 

Unfortunately that was the right to continue slavery, and I don't see such a huge moral or humanitarian issue that would be such a catalyst today. Not enough citizens in each state would support such a dramatic move even if a few states agreed with each other. 

 

Plus the US army is way too powerful nowadays for any one within the US to stand any chance of fighting against them. It's not the inexperienced Union Army any more. It's the biggest military force in the world. 

Edited 28 January by The Bear

[Spiritwalker]

This Trump presidency is going to work out very well for China.

[leicsmac]

2 hours ago, Lionator said:

Looks like he’s going full on Carney. Which I think is the right approach but will upset a lot of people. Geopolitically China is no threat to the UK. 

It will only upset people short sighted and self interested enough to think that doing things only the way the other power bloc to China does things will end any way other than badly for our species. 

 

 

1 hour ago, The Bear said:

Civil War will never happen. At least no more than a token show of arms and unrest that would quickly be shot down (literally). 

 

It's not the 1860s any more. And the federal government holds too much power over the individual states to ever let them secede unless they allowed them to. 

 

Late last year I learned all about the US Civil War as it was a large gap in my knowledge. And back then it took several southern states all banding together and a united population in those states having their livelihoods and way of life threatened to cause a legitimate fight for power to rule themselves individually.

 

Unfortunately that was the right to continue slavery, and I don't see such a huge moral or humanitarian issue that would be such a catalyst today. Not enough citizens in each state would support such a dramatic move even if a few states agreed with each other. 

 

Plus the US army is way too powerful nowadays for any one within the US to stand any chance of fighting against them. It's not the inexperienced Union Army any more. It's the biggest military force in the world. 

It wouldn't be a "war" from a pitched battle perspective, but I could easily see civil guerilla action that the US military has had issues with totally quelling in the past (see Vietnam and Afghanistan).

 

49 minutes ago, Spiritwalker said:

This Trump presidency is going to work out very well for China.

It was said at the time that he took charge that the Chinese could simply piss themselves laughing at what democracy has spun in their biggest rival and then work the kind of long game they've been playing for a while for better geopolitical results even faster. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, The Bear said:

Civil War will never happen. At least no more than a token show of arms and unrest that would quickly be shot down (literally). 

 

It's not the 1860s any more. And the federal government holds too much power over the individual states to ever let them secede unless they allowed them to. 

 

Late last year I learned all about the US Civil War as it was a large gap in my knowledge. And back then it took several southern states all banding together and a united population in those states having their livelihoods and way of life threatened to cause a legitimate fight for power to rule themselves individually.

 

Unfortunately that was the right to continue slavery, and I don't see such a huge moral or humanitarian issue that would be such a catalyst today. Not enough citizens in each state would support such a dramatic move even if a few states agreed with each other. 

 

Plus the US army is way too powerful nowadays for any one within the US to stand any chance of fighting against them. It's not the inexperienced Union Army any more. It's the biggest military force in the world. 

You don't think it conceivable that some of their armed forces might support their state, that generals or colonels might go rogue!

 

Or have I watched too many Hollywood movies?

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

I honestly think these thugs will kill again, and soon.

 

Ecuador condemns ICE agent's attempt to enter Minneapolis consulate - BBC News

 

https://share.google/P4N1GGVOE0dhwVGSH

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

And what's this all about?

 

US to send ICE agents to Winter Olympics, prompting Italian anger - BBC News

 

https://share.google/1H1U54WodiWeAYQLj

 

[DJW1]

On 27/01/2026 at 15:27, Sampson said:

I’m with you. I’m no fan of Starmer - I think he’s the kind of “boring technocrat” of “let’s just try things for a bit and see what works” that would’ve had a place as a Prime Minister in the mid-00s, but when we’re currently in the times of the biggest pivot point in world alliances and world structures since the Second World War, I’d rather have someone with much more of a vision and who is more decisive. But I think the one thing the country absolutely doesn’t need is the revolving door of PMs we had under the Tories.

 

What do Labour MPs think will happen if Burnham or Wes Streeting becomes PM? The economy isn’t suddenly going to fix itself, the foreign policy challenges which have arguably become bigger than the domestic policy challenges with the USA becoming so erratic and the Ukraine war aren’t going to suddenly sort themselves out.

If Streeting or Burnham became PM then within a week people would be moaning they'd shifted to the right.

The same would have happened if Corbyn had defeated May.

Centre-left governments in the UK are under constant pressure from powerful lobbies, hostile media, the Americans etc. and often cave in on many policies

[foxes1988]

On 27/01/2026 at 15:02, kenny said:

The economy would be a lot better with a competent chancellor, one that recognises how businesses work rather than tax raise after tax raise.

 

Dumping RR would make a bigger difference than dumping Starmer at present IMO.

Tbf there's been quite a lot of positive news stories on the economy since the budget.

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-businesses-consumers-show-signs-recovery-budget-worries-recede-2026-01-26/

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-retail-sales-show-unexpected-increase-december-2026-01-23/

 

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/22/uk-government-borrowing-falls-december

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/uk-trade-surplus-financial-services-surges-record-b1266709.html

 

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/01/28/britain-on-cusp-economic-boom-no-thanks-to-labour1/

 

Last one especially made me laugh. No thanks to Labour. Everything they are doing is damaging the economy .

 

[kenny]

1 minute ago, foxes1988 said:

Tbf there's been quite a lot of positive news stories on the economy since the budget.

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-businesses-consumers-show-signs-recovery-budget-worries-recede-2026-01-26/

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-retail-sales-show-unexpected-increase-december-2026-01-23/

 

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/22/uk-government-borrowing-falls-december

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/uk-trade-surplus-financial-services-surges-record-b1266709.html

 

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/01/28/britain-on-cusp-economic-boom-no-thanks-to-labour1/

 

Last one especially made me laugh. No thanks to Labour. Everything they are doing is damaging the economy .

 

I know.

 

Its trying to balance some of the good news stories against the backdrop of rising unemployment, redundancies and companies going bust that is difficult.

 

Its almost a daily occurance seeing a contact being made redundant and struggling to find work.

 

Its probably worse as I work in construction and the sector is doing particularly poorly. Build baby build they told us.

[foxes1988]

37 minutes ago, kenny said:

I know.

 

Its trying to balance some of the good news stories against the backdrop of rising unemployment, redundancies and companies going bust that is difficult.

 

Its almost a daily occurance seeing a contact being made redundant and struggling to find work.

 

Its probably worse as I work in construction and the sector is doing particularly poorly. Build baby build they told us.

The unemployment figure is a concern which from what I've read isn't likely to come down untill 2027.  Think ai growth is good but it's not going to help bring down unemployment much. All the long term infrastructure projects they're clearing/giving the go ahead too certainly will but that's going to take time.

 

The construction industry will take years even if the government pumped lots of funding in there so the NI tax increase is biting more there I reckon.

 

I work in haulage and it's been pretty good last 6 months.  January is our quietest time of year and it's been quite a busy month which is promising.

Edited 28 January by foxes1988

[Parafox]

Government announces support package that backs British pubs - GOV.UK

 

Another U turn?

 

"The Treasury has announced a support package worth more than £80m a year for pubs and live music venues in England, in a climbdown that follows a fierce backlash against plans to overhaul business rates.

Trade bodies had warned that Rachel Reeves’s changes to business rates, announced at the chancellor’s November budget, would trigger widespread closures and job losses in the hospitality sector, particularly in pubs.

On Tuesday, the government announced financial support to mitigate the effect of the rates shake-up, after officials admitted they had not foreseen its total financial impact".

 

I wonder just how competent those that "advise" the government are.

[Dr Marco]

The Boss

 

 

[leicsmac]

1 minute ago, Dr Marco said:

The Boss

 

 

Also:

 

 

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

16 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Also:

 

 

 

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

17 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Also:

 

 

 

Coincidentally, Mr Young's first band...

 

Neil Young gifts Greenland free access to his music and withdraws it from Amazon over Trump | Music | The Guardian

 

https://share.google/wagUu0TeyvrloKO14

 

Top man.

[kenny]

1 hour ago, foxes1988 said:

The unemployment figure is a concern which from what I've read isn't likely to come down untill 2027.  Think ai growth is good but it's not going to help bring down unemployment much. All the long term infrastructure projects they're clearing/giving the go ahead too certainly will but that's going to take time.

 

The construction industry will take years even if the government pumped lots of funding in there so the NI tax increase is biting more there I reckon.

 

I work in haulage and it's been pretty good last 6 months.  January is our quietest time of year and it's been quite a busy month which is promising.

They have cancelled a load of infrastructure as well hence the industry being so quiet. The big issue is I can't see the housing market recovering soon, there is so little confidence economically that people are being cautious. It's also exacerbated by the number of private landlords leaving the market, so it's a buyers market at present.

 

Another snippet I discovered this week is the doubling of landfill tax and the new building safety levy. My guess is these 2 will add £4-5k to the cost of a new build house in Leicestershire, it will be much higher in London. It's just more stealth tax that is going to inhibit growth IMO.

[Parafox]

56 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Coincidentally, Mr Young's first band...

 

Neil Young gifts Greenland free access to his music and withdraws it from Amazon over Trump | Music | The Guardian

 

https://share.google/wagUu0TeyvrloKO14

 

Top man.

 

No matter the protest songs and gatherings in Minneapolis, Trump's determination to eradicate foreign "illegal" immigrants won't stop and ICE is his blunt instrument to do just that.

 

ICE don't just arrest and deport, they also kill fellow Americans that they see as insurrectionists because they are seen as a "threat." 

 

What happened to the right of free speech?

 

America was never great in terms of rights for the people. Now it's even worse and will become more totalitarian.

 

Redneck supporters of our dear friend DT are just dumb sheep and will follow the herd thinking. And that's a worry for any level headed American.

 

 

[worthosoriginals]

45 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

No matter the protest songs and gatherings in Minneapolis, Trump's determination to eradicate foreign "illegal" immigrants won't stop and ICE is his blunt instrument to do just that.

 

ICE don't just arrest and deport, they also kill fellow Americans that they see as insurrectionists because they are seen as a "threat." 

 

What happened to the right of free speech?

 

America was never great in terms of rights for the people. Now it's even worse and will become more totalitarian.

 

Redneck supporters of our dear friend DT are just dumb sheep and will follow the herd thinking. And that's a worry for any level headed American.

 

 

The modern day equivalent  of rounding up the Jews,  have a minority  to blame for  all the  problems onto, its their fault  kill or hound them and things will be fantastic.

Did it work In1930s Germany? I don't fkin think so.

 

Come on in farage.... the clueless gullibles here need you,

To make britain great again, but on the plus side the roundabouts look nice.

 

 

 

[CornwallFox]

3 hours ago, kenny said:

I know.

 

Its trying to balance some of the good news stories against the backdrop of rising unemployment, redundancies and companies going bust that is difficult.

 

Its almost a daily occurance seeing a contact being made redundant and struggling to find work.

 

Its probably worse as I work in construction and the sector is doing particularly poorly. Build baby build they told us.

Can I ask a genuine question? 

 

This is going to come across potentially as an attack but I'm trying to work out whether there's any truth in what I sometimes think, from somebody in the industry. So I'd be grateful if you look beyond what you might perceive as a bit attacking your profession as I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts. 

 

It's just, I see guys doing basic building jobs earning amounts most graduates will never achieve. 

I see building companies sitting on swathes of land and only building an amount that allows prices to remain high. 

I see a wish to maximise profits on every home - which is how the private sector works in all industries so that isn't novel.

I see charges for upkeep in the form of ground rent. 

I see really, really poorly built new builds across the country. 

 

So my question, bearing in mind I've said all the above without any real knowledge of the industry so I'm willing to listen if I'm wrong - is any of the above good for the country? Given we need more housing built, should we trust private sector building firms to actually build quality housing at a fair price? 

[Trav Le Bleu]

14 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

Can I ask a genuine question? 

 

This is going to come across potentially as an attack but I'm trying to work out whether there's any truth in what I sometimes think, from somebody in the industry. So I'd be grateful if you look beyond what you might perceive as a bit attacking your profession as I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts. 

 

It's just, I see guys doing basic building jobs earning amounts most graduates will never achieve. 

I see building companies sitting on swathes of land and only building an amount that allows prices to remain high. 

I see a wish to maximise profits on every home - which is how the private sector works in all industries so that isn't novel.

I see charges for upkeep in the form of ground rent. 

I see really, really poorly built new builds across the country. 

 

So my question, bearing in mind I've said all the above without any real knowledge of the industry so I'm willing to listen if I'm wrong - is any of the above good for the country? Given we need more housing built, should we trust private sector building firms to actually build quality housing at a fair price? 

Very valid. I see a lot of new builds close up and for the most part they're soulless and shoddily built. First decent storm comes along and roof tiles and guttering goes kaput. Water coming up through drains (they love building on a flood plain - cheap land) after it rains more than a shower.

 

Then you've got council houses (which a lot of the people who buy new builds wouldn't even vaguely consider) which have stood solidly for 60-70 years and will probably be around for twice that at least.

[Trav Le Bleu]

 

To quote Homer Simpson, "It's funny cos it's true."