General News Thread

[danny.]

Dave definitely had a vision but coherent isn’t a word I’d associate with him. The man is a clown. 

[DJW1]

A quick Google search seems to confirm what I thought regarding wage rises and inflation. Namely, that wages have been rising more quickly than prices for at least 2 years. Yet many people seem to think the opposite is true. Of course, the prices of particular items of food etc. have shown spikes, but prices of other items have fallen/stagnated. 

I think that many people have made their mind up about this government and won´t let the facts cloud their judgement. This is not a new thing - I actually felt a bit sorry for Sunak because some (OK, a couple) of his policies seemed quite good but the Tory poll ratings were never going to recover after Lettuce Liz. 

[Spudulike]

14 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

Have you only just started watching PMQs? It's been years since any leader answered actual questions - probably Cameron was the last and even then I'm not sure. 

I've been watching them for years and nothing beats Starmer's robotic style with the blatant regurgitation of pre-prepared speeches whatever the question is. Doesn't even try to disguise it. He can't think on his feet and at least try to mix it up. He was asked about Mandelson several times and replied with Iran. Asked again and replied with muslims in Trafalgar Sq. It's not good enough for a public servant to take the piss out of the public. The idiot is offensive. It was like the crowd at the 'free wodger' speech in Life of Brian. Even the Speaker had to make the point that he isn't responsible for the (lack of) answers. Embarrassing.

[bmt]

11 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

I've been watching them for years and nothing beats Starmer's robotic style with the blatant regurgitation of pre-prepared speeches whatever the question is. Doesn't even try to disguise it. He can't think on his feet and at least try to mix it up. He was asked about Mandelson several times and replied with Iran. Asked again and replied with muslims in Trafalgar Sq. It's not good enough for a public servant to take the piss out of the public. The idiot is offensive. It was like the crowd at the 'free wodger' speech in Life of Brian. Even the Speaker had to make the point that he isn't responsible for the (lack of) answers. Embarrassing.

I think people have got your point wrong, you are talking specifically about PMQs when you say you can't remember a PM this bad, right? In any case (and I strongly dislike Starmer), I disagree. PMQs is, and has been, a farce for as long as I can remember it. They all avoid questions; I think Johnson was far worse for blatant misinformation but he got away with it because people somehow thought he was a strong communicator (which is also a joke). The bigger point though, which I think is right, is that out PMs would be laughed at by any competent head of other states. I agree that this goes as far back as Cameron, who was a dickhead.

[leicsmac]

14 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

I've been watching them for years and nothing beats Starmer's robotic style with the blatant regurgitation of pre-prepared speeches whatever the question is. Doesn't even try to disguise it. He can't think on his feet and at least try to mix it up. He was asked about Mandelson several times and replied with Iran. Asked again and replied with muslims in Trafalgar Sq. It's not good enough for a public servant to take the piss out of the public. The idiot is offensive. It was like the crowd at the 'free wodger' speech in Life of Brian. Even the Speaker had to make the point that he isn't responsible for the (lack of) answers. Embarrassing.

It's not good enough for the public to be either unknowingly or knowingly misinformed about the public servants and what they're doing in terms of policy, either, as per more than one post on this very page of this thread. 

 

So there appears to be a lot of "not good enough" to go around. 

[bmt]

31 minutes ago, DJW1 said:

A quick Google search seems to confirm what I thought regarding wage rises and inflation. Namely, that wages have been rising more quickly than prices for at least 2 years. Yet many people seem to think the opposite is true. Of course, the prices of particular items of food etc. have shown spikes, but prices of other items have fallen/stagnated. 

I think that many people have made their mind up about this government and won´t let the facts cloud their judgement. This is not a new thing - I actually felt a bit sorry for Sunak because some (OK, a couple) of his policies seemed quite good but the Tory poll ratings were never going to recover after Lettuce Liz. 

I assume this is largely due to public sector following industrial action? I live in London and although I am between jobs currently, I have been in reasonably well paid jobs before. It still equates to struggling to make ends meet with no hope of getting on the property ladder (I am in my mid 30s). I think the cost of living issue is so much deeper than looking at wage increases vs inflation in the last couple of years.

[leicsmac]

Also, to pivot quickly back to the Middle East for a minute after the events of today, it should be important to remember that this isn't just Trump's act of folly. Netanyahu is in just as deep and with equal self interest . 

[filthyfox]

8 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Also, to pivot quickly back to the Middle East for a minute after the events of today, it should be important to remember that this isn't just Trump's act of folly. Netanyahu is in just as deep and with equal self interest . 

No comment to be made at all about America being up Isreal's (the state) arse.

 

I really dont know why the best Navy in the world (ours) isn't clearing the Strait of Hormuz of mines and escorting tankers through it with our world beating Frigates.

 

Instead we give HMS Dragon's (a destroyer) crew a Cypriot holiday.

 

I wonder what Maggie (or even Blair, heaven help us) would have done.

 

Ps- an invitation to HMS Dragon's crew...  i would be more than happy to join you.  Maybe next week, when the weather goes off a bit?

Edited 18 March by filthyfox

[bmt]

6 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Also, to pivot quickly back to the Middle East for a minute after the events of today, it should be important to remember that this isn't just Trump's act of folly. Netanyahu is in just as deep and with equal self interest . 

Think this goes without saying these days! 

 

 

[leicsmac]

12 minutes ago, filthyfox said:

No comment to be made at all about America being up Isreal's (the state) arse.

 

I really dont know why the best Navy in the world (ours) isn't clearing the Strait of Hormuz of mines and escorting tankers through it with our world beating Frigates.

 

Instead we give HMS Dragon's (a destroyer) crew a Cypriot holiday.

 

I wonder what Maggie (or even Blair, heaven help us) would have done.

 

Ps- an invitation to HMS Dragon's crew...  i would be more than happy to join you.  Maybe next week, when the weather goes off a bit?

Well, I think that's a rather dangerous rabbit hole to descend, so I'm sticking to the safe ground of collective sociopathy being displayed there. 

 

And I don't think the Royal Navy, or any UK military assets, should be doing those sociopaths any favours whatsoever. Very much best to stay out of it entirely. It's their mess.

 

9 minutes ago, bmt said:

Think this goes without saying these days! 

 

 

You would think so, but seeing as one is (rightly) in the headlines for being a shitbag reasonably often, the other is going beneath notice somewhat. 

[Spudulike]

34 minutes ago, bmt said:

I think people have got your point wrong, you are talking specifically about PMQs when you say you can't remember a PM this bad, right? In any case (and I strongly dislike Starmer), I disagree. PMQs is, and has been, a farce for as long as I can remember it. They all avoid questions; I think Johnson was far worse for blatant misinformation but he got away with it because people somehow thought he was a strong communicator (which is also a joke). The bigger point though, which I think is right, is that out PMs would be laughed at by any competent head of other states. I agree that this goes as far back as Cameron, who was a dickhead.

Yes, my post came after watching todays PMQ's. Here's a snippet for those that missed it...

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, DJW1 said:

A quick Google search seems to confirm what I thought regarding wage rises and inflation. Namely, that wages have been rising more quickly than prices for at least 2 years. Yet many people seem to think the opposite is true. Of course, the prices of particular items of food etc. have shown spikes, but prices of other items have fallen/stagnated. 

I think that many people have made their mind up about this government and won´t let the facts cloud their judgement. This is not a new thing - I actually felt a bit sorry for Sunak because some (OK, a couple) of his policies seemed quite good but the Tory poll ratings were never going to recover after Lettuce Liz. 

Is that the average "mean" wage or the average "mode". Cos what you want is mode here, ie, the largest group of people. 

 

You could get a mean average being higher than food prices because millionaires have given themselves massive raises, while the man of the street gets 2-3% each year, if they're lucky.

[Lionator]

47 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Also, to pivot quickly back to the Middle East for a minute after the events of today, it should be important to remember that this isn't just Trump's act of folly. Netanyahu is in just as deep and with equal self interest . 

Bombing the Iranian gas fields is insane. I think the plan is to get Iran to respond so that it keeps the US drawn into the conflict, no matter how much damage is caused to civilians or the world economy. 

[bmt]

35 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Well, I think that's a rather dangerous rabbit hole to descend, so I'm sticking to the safe ground of collective sociopathy being displayed there. 

 

And I don't think the Royal Navy, or any UK military assets, should be doing those sociopaths any favours whatsoever. Very much best to stay out of it entirely. It's their mess.

 

You would think so, but seeing as one is (rightly) in the headlines for being a shitbag reasonably often, the other is going beneath notice somewhat. 

Completely agree on top part.

 

Honestly, I think on the highlighted it's got to the point where Netanyahu is such an arsehole that it doesn't seem worthy of analysis anymore. Which I agree makes it go under the radar and perceived as more acceptable. I have a friend from Lebanon, and I think that whole theatre isn't being seen at all for what it is.

[Clogger_]

Hmm, reading some posts made me wonder why the Tories are asking questions about Mandelson instead of Iran/US/Israel if they're really concerned about the "national interest"...

[Clogger_]

6 hours ago, filthyfox said:

It nearly didnt...  i shut up about my personal opinions regarding persons from other regimens of different religions. I should imagine if people actually spoke their minds, it would be a different matter entirely!

You used to be in the police, no?

[Trav Le Bleu]

4 minutes ago, Clogger_ said:

Hmm, reading some posts made me wonder why the Tories are asking questions about Mandelson instead of Iran/US/Israel if they're really concerned about the "national interest"...

Because they know that most people in the UK agree with him on that issue. It's kind of like when we beat Charlton 2-0. Almost unthinkable, but there you have it.

[leicsmac]

24 minutes ago, bmt said:

Completely agree on top part.

 

Honestly, I think on the highlighted it's got to the point where Netanyahu is such an arsehole that it doesn't seem worthy of analysis anymore. Which I agree makes it go under the radar and perceived as more acceptable. I have a friend from Lebanon, and I think that whole theatre isn't being seen at all for what it is.

There's something in that. You wonder what it would take to see the man removed from power. 

 

 

9 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Because they know that most people in the UK agree with him on that issue. It's kind of like when we beat Charlton 2-0. Almost unthinkable, but there you have it.

And as such Starmer should push back on that, with the Trump association, as much as possible. 

[Lionator]

11 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

There's something in that. You wonder what it would take to see the man removed from power. 

 

 

And as such Starmer should push back on that, with the Trump association, as much as possible. 

Technically an election but if he loses power, the chances are that he lives his final few years in prison. 

[filthyfox]

25 minutes ago, Clogger_ said:

You used to be in the police, no?

Indeed... and my best mate is muslim (former Major in Pakistan Army), and my wife's extended family are Jewish. NEITHER of them would be associated with the atrocities being committed by their "brethren".

[leicsmac]

4 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Technically an election but if he loses power, the chances are that he lives his final few years in prison. 

Yeah. Something he and Trump may have in common, there. 

[Lionator]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Yeah. Something he and Trump may have in common, there. 

No chance Trump rocks up in prison.

 

what do you make of Vance’s moves? Or lack of? Doesn’t take a genius to work out that this Iran adventure is his worst nightmare as a staunch isolationist but he sold his soul to Trump even though he’s an erratic maniac. 

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, Lionator said:

No chance Trump rocks up in prison.

 

what do you make of Vance’s moves? Or lack of? Doesn’t take a genius to work out that this Iran adventure is his worst nightmare as a staunch isolationist but he sold his soul to Trump even though he’s an erratic maniac. 

Actually, you're likely right there. Worst case for him is that he has a Nixon style retirement arrangement when articles of impeachment look like they'll succeed against him. 

 

Which is a possibility if this whole sort business keeps going badly and the midterms show a big enough swing.

[CornwallFox]

2 hours ago, danny. said:

Dave definitely had a vision but coherent isn’t a word I’d associate with him. The man is a clown. 

Interesting your first thought is to call him by a name that isn't used. Very droll.

 

I'm a labour voter so currently a little intrigued by the green poll boost. Without mentioning hypnotism which is just silly, I'd be interested in your thinking about their policies specifically. Also is he more or less clown than kemi or Nigel and why? 

[CornwallFox]

52 minutes ago, Clogger_ said:

Hmm, reading some posts made me wonder why the Tories are asking questions about Mandelson instead of Iran/US/Israel if they're really concerned about the "national interest"...

Surely it couldn't be that they wanted us to jump in with both feet but it's looking like a clusterf***?