The UK Politics & Brexit Thread

[AMGeed]

Motivational thought for the day:

“A chancellor who has never run a business and reports to a prime minister who has never run a business and is advised by civil servants who have never run a business - is about to advise business owners how to run a business.”​

It's frightening isn't it?

And those who voted Reform and Liberal last July put this shower in government.
I bet what we are seeing now wasn't what people expected when they wanted "change"
What I find sad is it was only a 60% turnout of voters!
One of the most important decision's we can make, and only 60% could be ar$ed.
Maybe the government can fill their black hole by fining those who fail to use their vote

 

[markjay]

Well, this is an interesting development:

Axel Rudakubana: Southport murder accused facing terror charge

Axel Rudakubana is accused of producing the poison ricin and possessing a study of an Al Qaeda training manual.

www.bbc.co.uk

The authorities seem to be continuing to do everything they can to avoid categorising the atrocious actions perpetrated by Axel Rudakubana as "terrorism". Perhaps that's something to do with their emphatically denying that the stabbings of the young girls was a terrorist act in their immediate aftermath and during the subsequent unrest?

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

Well, he has one charge which is under the Terrorism Act. So he's a suspected terrorist.

I think that the issue with declaring the murders as an act of terrorism is that if no direct link or motive can be substantiated, then the charge might not stick. Better to play it safe. A study of an Al Qaida manual might not be sufficient to establish a motive for the murders. And he has clearly not been talking to the police, because they have not established a motive.

 

[AMGeed]

Interesting graph below showing how it really went badly wrong for the Conservatives after the disastrous Liz Truss appointment in Sept 22.

UK election polls 2024 | Statista

The next UK general election will be held on July 4, 2024, with the Labour Party currently leading the Conservatives in election polls.

www.statista.com

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

The problem with the NHS on prostrate enlargement vs cancer is the failure to explain the reality of the situation. I'm 70 and presumably have an enlarged prostrate like others of my age, meaning I have to get up in the night to pee. Except for an unlucky few, I understand that the majority of older men will get prostrate enlargement/cancer and die with it rather than from it. Yet I didn't learn this from the NHS. Why aren't they being more forthcoming with information on what is the most common cancer for men. Every man older than 65 will get called in for a health check on blood pressure, cholesterol etc but prostrate cancer doesn't even get mentioned and if you ask then you get directed to make another appointment with the doctor. Seems to me an opportunity missed to be proactive instead of reactive.

I was first offered a PSA test at the age of 50 ( I am now 72) . My best friend urged his brother to get tested at 50 and he was found to have Prostate and bowel cancer . Luckily prompt surgery saved him.

Since my first PSA test my only visits to the doctors surgery were for jabs , except I had a Bell’s palsy in 2019. I was invited to have a checkup and blood test at my 70th birthday and requested a PSA test . I had to argue to get it. I have requested PSA tests on my last two annual visits ( seems that after 20 years I should now have an annual review) having been to 2 funerals of friends that were late in getting diagnosed with prostate cancer.

My wife cancelled a scheduled mammogram in 2021 as her sister was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary for emergency surgery ( she was lucky to survive and now has a stoma). After her sister was discharged from hospital my wife decided that as she ( my wife) was aged 69 she would no longer be offered a mammogram as they stop the routine at 70, so contacted the GP and asked if she could still have the scan . Some weeks later she had a mammogram. Three weeks after she received a letter asking her to attend the breast clinic in Bristol for a follow up. I was unable to go in the clinic due to Covid, so waited outside. I will never forget the feeling when a nurse came outside and asked me to go to a waiting room. My wife had just been told that she needed an urgent mastectomy plus a lumpectomy on the other breast. She had not experienced any discomfort or lumps in the breast and this was the last scheduled mammogram! I am pleased to say that a couple of weeks later she had the surgery and next month will have an examination to hopefully give her another clean bill of health. It sometimes pays to have a routine examination!

 

[TC350]

Maybe the government can fill their black hole by fining those who fail to use their vote

I’d only agree to this if there was also an option to tick “None of the above.”

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

What I find sad is it was only a 60% turnout of voters!
One of the most important decision's we can make, and only 60% could be ar$ed.

I’m sure there are a growing number who can’t be bothered, but I suspect a greater than normal number of people decided not to vote. They wanted to send a signal to the Conservatives that they wanted change, but couldn’t quite bring themselves to voting for another party and so simply didn’t vote.

In real life I have meant quite a few people who chose not to vote or voted leave expecting it to send a signal, but both tactics resulted in sending a much larger and more permanent signal than they expected. My then brother in law manned polling stations for Brexits and as the evening went on he had a relatively large number of people come back to ask how to change their vote

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I was first offered a PSA test at the age of 50 ( I am now 72) . My best friend urged his brother to get tested at 50 and he was found to have Prostate and bowel cancer . Luckily prompt surgery saved him.

Since my first PSA test my only visits to the doctors surgery were for jabs , except I had a Bell’s palsy in 2019. I was invited to have a checkup and blood test at my 70th birthday and requested a PSA test . I had to argue to get it. I have requested PSA tests on my last two annual visits ( seems that after 20 years I should now have an annual review) having been to 2 funerals of friends that were late in getting diagnosed with prostate cancer.

My wife cancelled a scheduled mammogram in 2021 as her sister was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary for emergency surgery ( she was lucky to survive and now has a stoma). After her sister was discharged from hospital my wife decided that as she ( my wife) was aged 69 she would no longer be offered a mammogram as they stop the routine at 70, so contacted the GP and asked if she could still have the scan . Some weeks later she had a mammogram. Three weeks after she received a letter asking her to attend the breast clinic in Bristol for a follow up. I was unable to go in the clinic due to Covid, so waited outside. I will never forget the feeling when a nurse came outside and asked me to go to a waiting room. My wife had just been told that she needed an urgent mastectomy plus a lumpectomy on the other breast. She had not experienced any discomfort or lumps in the breast and this was the last scheduled mammogram! I am pleased to say that a couple of weeks later she had the surgery and next month will have an examination to hopefully give her another clean bill of health. It sometimes pays to have a routine examination!

Liking your post feels like the wrong thing to do but I am relieved that GP and hospital took swift action. Wishing you and your wife the very best.

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

Liking your post feels like the wrong thing to do but I am relieved that GP and hospital took swift action. Wishing you and your wife the very best.

Thanks Bobby , it certainly focused our minds and caused us to step back from things we can’t influence and just enjoy life.. Love her to bits despite my frequent grumbling!

 

[Darrell]

I’m sure there are a growing number who can’t be bothered, but I suspect a greater than normal number of people decided not to vote. They wanted to send a signal to the Conservatives that they wanted change, but couldn’t quite bring themselves to voting for another party and so simply didn’t vote.

In Greece and 21 other nations it’s mandatory to vote.

None of this ‘sending a message bollox’

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks Bobby , it certainly focused our minds and caused us to step back from things we can’t influence and just enjoy life.. Love her to bits despite my frequent grumbling!

Very wise words

 

[m80]

And those who voted Reform and Liberal last July put this shower in government.

What I find sad is it was only a 60% turnout of voters!
One of the most important decision's we can make, and only 60% could be ar$ed.
Maybe the government can fill their black hole by fining those who fail to use their vote

Is there a contradiction there?

Don't like those (26.5%) that voted as they chose.
Don't like those that chose not to vote.

 

[SpikyMikey]

In Greece and 21 other nations it’s mandatory to vote.

None of this ‘sending a message bollox’

I always remember being on Rhodes years ago and being in a taverna where the TV was on...pictures of a large sports arena full of flag waving, chanting people. We assumed it was some major sports event. It was in fact election night. It was obviously as much a social event as a political one.

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

I’d only agree to this if there was also an option to tick “None of the above.”

I think a better idea would be to fine everyone that voted Labour

 

[TC350]

In Greece and 21 other nations it’s mandatory to vote.

None of this ‘sending a message bollox’

How’s it turning out for them?

 

[AMGeed]

Is there a contradiction there?

Don't like those (26.5%) that voted as they chose.
Don't like those that chose not to vote.

I see no contradiction?
Past elections have been a two horse race. Reform were never in the race and the Lib Dems were just an annoyance with precious few seats.

Too many previous Tory voters wanted a change, couldn't bring themselves to vote Labour so by voting Reform/Lib Dems handed the election to Labour. It should be remembered Starmer got less votes than well beaten Corbyn, yet still won.

The fact Labour and the Tories were still too distasteful to vote for is one reason for the poor turnout IMO.
None of the above wasn't on the voting slip.

Things will become far clearer where Labour lie on May 1st next year. By elections time.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Are you a lawyer then ?

You're not still pushing that idea of a "National Legal Service" are you?

Free legal service at point of need. Unlimited access to a Solicitor, and referral to Barristers on request.

Enabling people to sue suppliers and customers as needed.

I understand that everyone deserves access to legal resource, but don't you think this could get misused by people, and lawyers, beyond what's really necessary?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I have just been watching questions to I,Robot, also known as Chancellor of the Exchequer.Many of her answers referenced "14 years......., Black hole.........., etc. This together with planted questions from her Labour MPs made the whole exercise meaningless. Every answer to these planted questions was long winded and with eyes firmly fixed on her notes.Why are these obviously planted soft ball questions allowed?
One of her replies began with "I started my career as an economist with the BofE." This was greeted with much laughter .

She started her career as a graduate trainee in the Bank of England.

Rapidly proving herself to be out of her depth, she wasn't promoted and

after three years found herself a job in a division of HBOS in Leeds and started on a second career as a backbench MP.

 

[Darrell]

How’s it turning out for them?

Like most people… it depends how much wedge they’ve got in the back pocket.

 

[Darrell]

I always remember being on Rhodes years ago and being in a taverna where the TV was on...pictures of a large sports arena full of flag waving, chanting people. We assumed it was some major sports event. It was in fact election night. It was obviously as much a social event as a political one.

They do tend to get into it!!

 

[SpikyMikey]

How’s it turning out for them?

Politics appears to be politics the World over.
A very good Greek friend of ours, talking about joining the Eurozone and hosting the Olympic Games (which nearly bankrupted the country), summed it up succinctly by saying "We did not know what was true lies and what was lies lies..."