General News Thread

[RowlattsFox]

4 hours ago, Bordersfox said:

When I was 16/17 I'd have done the exact opposite of that.  Teenagers are not known for complying with parental edicts. 

 

The vast majority will probably vote Green, Labour and some Lib Dem.  Based on polling of 18-24s anyway.  There is little to suggest 16-18 will be much different, but obviously no polls for it currently.  There is no indication they will vote Reform in any numbers, quite the opposite, particularly as Reform opposed giving them the vote.  

Generally I'd agree but not amongst lower income/benefits families.

 

Bit of market research, I work alongside the King's trust, one of the programme leaders there ran a session today on voting and they were asked to do a bit of research etc. Apparently all of them voted Reform  

 

Small sample size I know, and I'd be amazed if any of them got of their arse to vote (and have ID) but its worrying, particularly in deprived areas. 

[bovril]

Would be more interesting if voting rights were based on things like favourite foods or contents of bookshelves. Obviously anybody with a book by Rory Stewart should be disenfranchised. 

[urban.spaceman]

It's honestly been an amazing couple of days watching Brexiteers and Reform people on social media warning that 16-17 year olds might not understand what they're voting for without a single shred of self reflection.

[Guest Electric Yetis]

5 minutes ago, urban.spaceman said:

It's honestly been an amazing couple of days watching Brexiteers and Reform people on social media warning that 16-17 year olds might not understand what they're voting for without a single shred of self reflection.

All whilst they're happy for 18 year old to be in charge of millions of council money.

[bovril]

5 minutes ago, urban.spaceman said:

It's honestly been an amazing couple of days watching Brexiteers and Reform people on social media warning that 16-17 year olds might not understand what they're voting for without a single shred of self reflection.

Guy who voted to kneecap his own country's economy to annoy people who only exist in his head thinks teenagers are not responsible enough.

[Bordersfox]

1 hour ago, RowlattsFox said:

Generally I'd agree but not amongst lower income/benefits families.

 

Bit of market research, I work alongside the King's trust, one of the programme leaders there ran a session today on voting and they were asked to do a bit of research etc. Apparently all of them voted Reform  

 

Small sample size I know, and I'd be amazed if any of them got of their arse to vote (and have ID) but its worrying, particularly in deprived areas. 

Sad really, Reform like all parties of its ilk, offer no real solutions instead feeding off the despair of the disenfranchised, blaming other disenfranchised people (now they can't blame the EU).  Invariably funded by very wealthy, very unpleasant characters.

 

Of course, the mainstream parties haven't helped by successively allowing living standards to fall, failing to provide a lack of adequate social housing, presiding over a failing immigration and prison system all whilst the wealthiest just keep getting richer and corporations avoid tax for fun.  

 

No easy answers but Reform categorically ain't it!  

[The Doctor]

13 hours ago, Bordersfox said:

Sad really, Reform like all parties of its ilk, offer no real solutions instead feeding off the despair of the disenfranchised, blaming other disenfranchised people (now they can't blame the EU).  Invariably funded by very wealthy, very unpleasant characters.

 

Of course, the mainstream parties haven't helped by successively allowing living standards to fall, failing to provide a lack of adequate social housing, presiding over a failing immigration and prison system all whilst the wealthiest just keep getting richer and corporations avoid tax for fun.  

 

No easy answers but Reform categorically ain't it!  

I'd suggest the mainstream parties have actually made it worse by not challenging reforms framing at all, on anything really. Everyone and their nan has an opinion on "small boats" because it's been allowed to become a hot button issue. Rather than showing compassion for refugees, talking positively about our obligations as humans to protect the most vulnerable, and about the contribution that immigration has made to this country, labour have gone along with the reform framing of it being an invasion and Starmer goes out there quoting Enoch Powell.

 

ironically as well, by constantly kowtowing to reforms framing, and arguing on the case of competence, labour also make the case that reform would be better than them as well. Very easy to suggest that you'd be better off living under incompetent evil than the competent evil.

[leicsmac]

1 hour ago, The Doctor said:

I'd suggest the mainstream parties have actually made it worse by not challenging reforms framing at all, on anything really. Everyone and their nan has an opinion on "small boats" because it's been allowed to become a hot button issue. Rather than showing compassion for refugees, talking positively about our obligations as humans to protect the most vulnerable, and about the contribution that immigration has made to this country, labour have gone along with the reform framing of it being an invasion and Starmer goes out there quoting Enoch Powell.

 

ironically as well, by constantly kowtowing to reforms framing, and arguing on the case of competence, labour also make the case that reform would be better than them as well. Very easy to suggest that you'd be better off living under incompetent evil than the competent evil.

Reforms counterparts elsewhere are, sadly, proving more competent than someone might like at the moment. 

 

I do agree the framing is awful right now, but I have no idea what would be the best way to switch the narrative in an effective fashion (emphasis on the "effective" there).

[leicsmac]

Related to the above, apparently both Fred Rogers and Sesame Street are "woke" now, so the current administration are going to places even their predecessors had the decency not to tread:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5367gzpxjo

 

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing Congress to claw back billions in pre-approved funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid.

 

...The approved funding cuts include large reductions to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes PBS and NPR.

[CosbehFox]

1 hour ago, The Doctor said:

I'd suggest the mainstream parties have actually made it worse by not challenging reforms framing at all, on anything really. Everyone and their nan has an opinion on "small boats" because it's been allowed to become a hot button issue. Rather than showing compassion for refugees, talking positively about our obligations as humans to protect the most vulnerable, and about the contribution that immigration has made to this country, labour have gone along with the reform framing of it being an invasion and Starmer goes out there quoting Enoch Powell.

 

ironically as well, by constantly kowtowing to reforms framing, and arguing on the case of competence, labour also make the case that reform would be better than them as well. Very easy to suggest that you'd be better off living under incompetent evil than the competent evil.

I don’t think there’s an European country out there like it. Other parties elsewhere would be in full challenge mode

[Trav Le Bleu]

9 hours ago, leicsmac said:

Related to the above, apparently both Fred Rogers and Sesame Street are "woke" now, so the current administration are going to places even their predecessors had the decency not to tread:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5367gzpxjo

 

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing Congress to claw back billions in pre-approved funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid.

 

...The approved funding cuts include large reductions to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes PBS and NPR.

What's "woke" about Dusty Bin?

[leicsmac]

7 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

What's "woke" about Dusty Bin?

Hell knows, Heaven suspects, I would think. 

[Jattdogg]

12 hours ago, leicsmac said:

Related to the above, apparently both Fred Rogers and Sesame Street are "woke" now, so the current administration are going to places even their predecessors had the decency not to tread:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5367gzpxjo

 

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing Congress to claw back billions in pre-approved funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid.

 

...The approved funding cuts include large reductions to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes PBS and NPR.

....But hey,  epsteins friends aren't the problem at all...

[leicsmac]

Good to see that Farage actually acknowledging what the scientific consensus has known for decades now. Just a shame that he still doesn't want to do anything about the consequences because he evidently thinks UK will be fine in spite of all of it. 

 

Perhaps he should talk more to some farmers.

[CornwallFox]

On 19/07/2025 at 07:13, The Doctor said:

I'd suggest the mainstream parties have actually made it worse by not challenging reforms framing at all, on anything really. Everyone and their nan has an opinion on "small boats" because it's been allowed to become a hot button issue. Rather than showing compassion for refugees, talking positively about our obligations as humans to protect the most vulnerable, and about the contribution that immigration has made to this country, labour have gone along with the reform framing of it being an invasion and Starmer goes out there quoting Enoch Powell.

 

ironically as well, by constantly kowtowing to reforms framing, and arguing on the case of competence, labour also make the case that reform would be better than them as well. Very easy to suggest that you'd be better off living under incompetent evil than the competent evil.

The framing is difficult as migration if this sort is never, ever popular. 

Labour could go much harder on the Tories, who created the problem by stopping processing on purpose, thinking it would help them electorally.

And they could attack Reform directly on the utter lack of plan they have to solve the problem. Tice always makes false claims about the legality of just taking people to France and it's never challenged on the complete nonsense he comes out with. Reform vote against every measure to solve the problem because, like the Tories thought, it's in their interest for the problem to exist. 

[MaidstoneFox]

On 19/07/2025 at 08:33, leicsmac said:

Related to the above, apparently both Fred Rogers and Sesame Street are "woke" now, so the current administration are going to places even their predecessors had the decency not to tread:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5367gzpxjo

 

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing Congress to claw back billions in pre-approved funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid.

 

...The approved funding cuts include large reductions to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes PBS and NPR.

I suspect 'The Count' has outstayed his visa and will face deportation. All those years helping pre-schoolers with basic maths means nothing.

[leicsmac]

23 minutes ago, MaidstoneFox said:

I suspect 'The Count' has outstayed his visa and will face deportation. All those years helping pre-schoolers with basic maths means nothing.

Well, the President did state his ambition to "Stop the Count" a while back, so here we are, I guess. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

Well, the President did state his ambition to "Stop the Count" a while back, so here we are, I guess. 

That's just it though. The main problem with Trump is no one can stop the count.

[leicsmac]

23 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

That's just it though. The main problem with Trump is no one can stop the count.

Seemingly so. 

 

(Excellent wordplay use there btw.)

[foxy boxing]

The embarrassment of being caught going to a Coldplay concert. 

[bovril]

27 minutes ago, foxy boxing said:

The embarrassment of being caught going to a Coldplay concert. 

Are you accessing foxestalk on Internet Explorer?

[bovril]

'Envy of the World'

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/20/nhs-facing-absolutely-shocking-27bn-bill-for-maternity-failings-in-england

 

[Sampson]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2kz127pj3o
 

Reform starting the ball rolling on taking down the civil service and checks and balances that hold up democracy. 4 years of chatting this stuff and his voters will get behind him trying to give the government more powers 

[Parafox]

2 hours ago, Sampson said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2kz127pj3o
 

Reform starting the ball rolling on taking down the civil service and checks and balances that hold up democracy. 4 years of chatting this stuff and his voters will get behind him trying to give the government more powers 

 

Isn't Trump doing the same over there?

 

There seems to be some striking parallels between the Republicans and Reform.

Edited 20 July 2025 by Parafox

[bovril]

1 minute ago, Parafox said:

 

Isn't Trump doing the same over there?

 

There seems to be some striking parallels between the Republicans and Reform.

Those English politicians who claim to be the most patriotic are also the ones determined to cement our position as America's most loyal province.