The UK Politics & Brexit Thread

[Deleted96908]

3. They should focus on their core area of expertise. That is not running hotels. Not being a commercial landlord. Not playing at being business people. Their remit is providing local services

To my mind local services should start with housing and accommodation, followed by health, education, policing etc - in which ever way is most economical.

Although, tend to agree, that shouldn't be in concert with enriching private corporations. Problem is, local authorities don't run fiscal policies, they just manage budgets, so they can't always borrow, or invest in the way they'd like (although this does appear to be under review).

However, currently, and as a consequence, public - private partnerships are sought, and are in turn naturally exploited by the commercial side of the arrangement.

 

[grober]

THE NAVY LARK propshaft seal evidently
Leak found on new £3.1bn aircraft carrier

https://www.rolls-royce.com/~/media...uments/news/6-page-qe-booklet-tcm92-58802.pdf

whether this relates to this or not??
HMS Queen Elizabeth undergoing rectification and repair work due to propeller issues

 

[Dryce]

THE NAVY LARK propshaft seal evidently
Leak found on new £3.1bn aircraft carrier

This - as reported - isn't even slightly newsworthy.

The media reports it is embarrassing and the RN is trying to play it down. Yeah well that's what happens when the media gets in a tizzy and somebody tries to tell them they shouldn't be in a tizzy. Kind of self fulfilling.

So unless there is something else going on that hasn't been reported then what is actually happening is that the media is playing it up.

Of course if you wanted to cover something up - like the fact that you were missing major radar systems or half the engines were not fitted (anybody remember the Tornado F3 and the concrete ballast up front because the radars were not ready?) then releasing a non story and then 'playing it down' is a perfect way to misdirect our media.

 

[st13phil]

anybody remember the Tornado F3 and the concrete ballast up front because the radars were not ready?

Oh yes. Blue Circle Airways

 

[Dryce]

A further tariff of 80% has now been imposed on the import of Bombardier's C-Series jet to the US
Fresh US tariffs imposed on Bombardier

Further to this:

US finds against Bombardier in Boeing fight

And the Boeing-Embraer deal that was probably at the heart of it looks a bit closer to being realised:

Embraer shares take off on Boeing talks

Also worth noting Bombardier tucking in closely with Airbus as well.

 

[grober]

And so farewell Damian Green alledged toucher of knees and inappropriate texts. Theresa May's right hand man in the Brexit struggle in cabinet is no more. Slightly strange that all this stuff should surface at this precise moment in time mind. Shades of a "rat behind the arras" perhaps? Hamlet ACT III SCENE IV
Andrew Pierce profiles Kate Maltby | Daily Mail Online

 

[Scott_F]

Andrew Pierce profiles Kate Maltby | Daily Mail Online

I got as far as the bit about Ann Widdecombe in her "saucy shorts" and suddenly began to feel unwell.

 

[Deleted96908]

There's something about high office that seems to push folks towards the weirdest of behaviours - whilst also thinking they can keep their heads down until the storm passes. Had this been a headmaster, or in fact any school teacher, he or she would had been dismissed immediately, and presumably left with a professional black mark over his or her future career. Ok, they work with kids, but there's something equally sinister about a minister allegedly surfing porn whilst in part being responsible for governing the country. In saying that, thankfully it wasn't TM's computer in the spotlight - and presumably he wasn't using a hand me down .

 

[190]

Having to filter inappropriate internet content for schools I sometimes think a good starting point would be for the illegal content to be filtered out at a national level. That way the people in high office couldn't get into trouble. If it's illegal then lets remove the temptation. Some countries decide what their citizens can view although often more for political reasons. The point is it's possible to block illegal porn and all the other undesirable things like how to join isis and be a terrorist. I know it's the thin end of the wedge but there are some things I'd happily have blocked for all our good.

If the person in high office was viewing legal content then it becomes purely a moral issue which is a more difficult area that raises all sorts of questions.

 

[Deleted96908]

Having to filter inappropriate internet content for schools I sometimes think a good starting point would be for the illegal content to be filtered out at a national level.

Problem is there’s no reliable way of achieving that. Currently.

Besides, even if it was possible and we agreed that proactive filtering would help keep the vulnerable away from damaging content, I can’t help thinking that if we can’t trust those in government to make the right personal decisions about what they view online whilst at work, then how can we trust them to make the right decisions on behalf of the country?

Which opens up the much broader question of how M.P.s etc behave. Judging by the weekly pantomime during PM’s televised question time, I’d question the judgement of almost all of them. Pornly appetite or not.

 

[grober]

If only this guy was still in charge.
Prince Harry interviews Barack Obama, Best of Today - BBC Radio 4

 

[markjay]

....Judging by the weekly pantomime during PM’s televised question time, I’d question the judgement of almost all of them. Pornly appetite or not.

I never quite understood the purpose of this televised exchange aimed purely at scoring wittiness points with the press. It seems to have no practical relation to the job of Parliament or Government.

 

[AMGeed]

I never quite understood the purpose of this televised exchange aimed purely at scoring wittiness points with the press. It seems to have no practical relation to the job of Parliament or Government.

I think it just gives the braying idiots a platform to revel in their own self importance.
As for the House of Lords, a tradition that should have died out sometime in the last century.

 

[markjay]

I am travelling around Ayrshire these days... lovely area, very friendly locals, and very reasonably-priced houses.

Coming from London, I start questioning why do so many people want to live in central London? The increased demand means that houses in London are unaffordable to many people.

I can understand those who apply for Council Houses, and also those on the other side of the scale who have money to invest and look for a potentially appreciating asset.

But if you are just looking for a home....? Why pay London's inflated prices instead of settling somewhere nice and affordable?

I guess the answer is jobs... which seems to suggest that one way of tackling housing market issues is by encouraging businesses to move to areas away from London (and other city centres), create jobs, and reduce the pressure (and demand, and prices) in those areas where the house prices are currently rocketing.

 

[Lennox]

Hence why for years I commuted weekly and worked in consulting. London wage levels but based from affordable Scotland. Recently consulted across the Nordics for a year, do it sold your industry allows.

And if the SNP keep making a hash of it I will be back travelling again. Middle East??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Deleted member 37751]

So, if you sell out the people who voted for you, sell your soul, destroy your own party at a general election and prop up one of the most divisive governments for a generation your reward is a knighthood -

Knighthood for Nick Clegg in New Year Honours list Knighthood for Clegg in New Year Honours

 

[DSM10000]

So, if you sell out the people who voted for you, sell your soul, destroy your own party at a general election and prop up one of the most divisive governments for a generation your reward is a knighthood -

Knighthood for Nick Clegg in New Year Honours list Knighthood for Clegg in New Year Honours

At least the voters in his constituency saw through him!

 

[Giantvanman]

To my mind local services should start with housing and accommodation, followed by health, education, policing etc - in which ever way is most economical.

This will likely be very controversial.....

There's no point on concentrating on housing or even building social housing all the time the right to buy act remains in force.
Surely common sense would dictate that the act be repealed but at least not extended to include housing association properties.....there's either a housing crisis (especially in affordable housing) or there isn't.

 

[Dryce]

I guess the answer is jobs... which seems to suggest that one way of tackling housing market issues is by encouraging businesses to move to areas away from London (and other city centres), create jobs, and reduce the pressure (and demand, and prices) in those areas where the house prices are currently rocketing.

Exactly.

Move government departments and procurement out of the capital. Move the BBC completely out. Don't do it as a sudden change. Do it progressively. Freeze all hiring in targeted departments above a given threshold in the capital and start shifting jobs involving *responsibility* as well as the general staff to the regions. Start with Defence and DWP.

 

[markjay]

Exactly.

Move government departments and procurement out of the capital. Move the BBC completely out. Don't do it as a sudden change. Do it progressively. Freeze all hiring in targeted departments above a given threshold in the capital and start shifting jobs involving *responsibility* as well as the general staff to the regions. Start with Defence and DWP.

I agree.

But I think that shifting public sector jobs 'up north' will not be sufficient.

We also need the private sector to take part. Perhaps businesses can be encouraged through a tax exemption scheme of some sort.