Stop voting for fucking Tories

[Rhubarb & Custard]

There is a discernible risk. Any security analyst or twat on the internet can see that

Helicopters being famously risk free, both in themselves and in the event of being attacked

You're general nut bag doesn't have access to SAM's but a bog standard goat fucker can put together an IED.

The rare instance of wanting your not you're. Also how many goat fuckers do you imagine there are that one needs to classify some as merely bog standard?

And true, but SAMs aren't the only issue. Not so much a well maintained helicopter itself, more lasers, drones. Point being risk is a common theme, and if his best defence is he's led a country to such a state of violence he can't catch the train, then would he kindly fuck off from public life

[Slick]

The scale of Tory lying is simply staggering.

Has Starmer said anything about this yet? Surely this is an easy one to point out that they are lying to you again?

[sturginho]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66340991

And I thought my council was bad....

[Rhubarb & Custard]

You're general nut bag doesn't have access to SAM's but a bog standard goat fucker can put together an IED.

The rare instance of wanting your not you're. Also how many goat fuckers do you imagine there are that one needs to classify some as merely bog standard?

And true, but SAMs aren't the only issue. Not so much a well maintained helicopter itself, more lasers, drones. Point being risk is a common theme, and if his best defence is he's led a country to such a state of violence he can't catch the train, then would he kindly fuck off from public life

You're can fuck off. Seriously though you have enough reasons to not like the Tories without focusing on security issues

Oh please, one can never have too many reasons to loathe them, what they've done to the country and even what they've done to their party.

[petej]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66340991

And I thought my council was bad....

Now THAT is an actual issue with the Tories. It's hilariously bad

Further details here https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/s ... -taxpayers
Incredible really. Every time the public bears the cost.

[_Os_]

FWIW I saw Boris Johnson cycling to work when he was Mayor a few times...not sure it means anything about his character.

The same Johnson who successfully conned much (most?) of the UK into thinking he was a normal down to earth guy who "is intelligent really"? Cycling seemed to work then?

Taking a helicopter everywhere is so obviously a bad move. Was it Major (could've been Thatcher) who wanted to install a helicopter landing pad on the roof of No 10, just to speed travel up? He was told he wasn't a president and that wouldn't go down well.

Johnson got taken down by partygate, it tanked his polling which forced him into lying to parliament about it. Taking helicopter rides everywhere is in the same category of "this guy isn't one of us, there's things he's doing we cannot". There should be different rules for the people running the UK, they should ignore lockdown they should take helicopters everywhere ... but that's not what the UK public wants, they want leaders who pretend to be normal.

Given the nature of the UK media/public debate, "billionaire man takes helicopter rides everywhere" is something which can cut through. It has to be so simple that the tabloids cannot ignore it. This is dumb, but it's also what works.

[Biffer]

FWIW I saw Boris Johnson cycling to work when he was Mayor a few times...not sure it means anything about his character.

I also suspect a couple of the posters ardently complaining about this here could not care less about Nicola Sturgeons and other SG senior ministers preference for chauffeur driven cars instead of trains to travel around the central belt.

Then again there are photos of Nicola Sturgeon on the airport bus with everyone else while she was FM.

[Slick]

FWIW I saw Boris Johnson cycling to work when he was Mayor a few times...not sure it means anything about his character.

The same Johnson who successfully conned much (most?) of the UK into thinking he was a normal down to earth guy who "is intelligent really"? Cycling seemed to work then?

Taking a helicopter everywhere is so obviously a bad move. Was it Major (could've been Thatcher) who wanted to install a helicopter landing pad on the roof of No 10, just to speed travel up? He was told he wasn't a president and that wouldn't go down well.

Johnson got taken down by partygate, it tanked his polling which forced him into lying to parliament about it. Taking helicopter rides everywhere is in the same category of "this guy isn't one of us, there's things he's doing we cannot". There should be different rules for the people running the UK, they should ignore lockdown they should take helicopters everywhere ... but that's not what the UK public wants, they want leaders who pretend to be normal.

Given the nature of the UK media/public debate, "billionaire man takes helicopter rides everywhere" is something which can cut through. It has to be so simple that the tabloids cannot ignore it. This is dumb, but it's also what works.

Lets be clear, Johnson is a cunt, but his ability to connect with anyone from anywhere is pretty remarkable. I'd see him almost daily when he was Mayor chatting away to anyone who came up to him, binmen, city folk, and all left with a smile on their face. Lets be clear, Johnson is a cunt.

[inactionman]

Didn't Boris get caught slagging off John Lewis?

Thought that would torpedo his standing in Middle England.

To their credit, John Lewis responded by releasing an 'everyday' range that was in distinct contrast to Boris and Carrie's profligacy.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

FWIW I saw Boris Johnson cycling to work when he was Mayor a few times...not sure it means anything about his character.

I also suspect a couple of the posters ardently complaining about this here could not care less about Nicola Sturgeons and other SG senior ministers preference for chauffeur driven cars instead of trains to travel around the central belt.

Then again there are photos of Nicola Sturgeon on the airport bus with everyone else while she was FM.

airport bus or an actual camper van?

[inactionman]

FWIW I saw Boris Johnson cycling to work when he was Mayor a few times...not sure it means anything about his character.

I also suspect a couple of the posters ardently complaining about this here could not care less about Nicola Sturgeons and other SG senior ministers preference for chauffeur driven cars instead of trains to travel around the central belt.

Then again there are photos of Nicola Sturgeon on the airport bus with everyone else while she was FM.

airport bus or an actual camper van?

Naughty.

[Biffer]

Then again there are photos of Nicola Sturgeon on the airport bus with everyone else while she was FM.

airport bus or an actual camper van?

Naughty.

nah, just predictable.

[inactionman]

airport bus or an actual camper van?

Naughty.

nah, just predictable.

Sadly, yes, this is going to haunt her.

[_Os_]

Lets be clear, Johnson is a cunt, but his ability to connect with anyone from anywhere is pretty remarkable. I'd see him almost daily when he was Mayor chatting away to anyone who came up to him, binmen, city folk, and all left with a smile on their face. Lets be clear, Johnson is a cunt.

What's remarkable about cycling and talking to people? It was all just part of his act, does he bother with any of that now that con has been played?

The UK public wants leaders that pretend to be normal, it's probably stupid but that's what they want.

"Man cycles to work and talks to people" = Make this completely unsuitable cunt PM with a huge majority!
"Billionaire man takes helicopter rides everywhere" = Who does he think he is the PM or something! Get him out!

[sockwithaticket]

The scale of Tory lying is simply staggering.

Has Starmer said anything about this yet? Surely this is an easy one to point out that they are lying to you again?

Not Starmer himself, but it's clearly part of the Labour brief at the moment.

Given the format of PMQs it wasn't as detailed as a 5 minute news segment, but Rayner slapped Sunak down over his claims last week pointing out it wasn't going to do anything for bills or energy security.

Last night someone from Labour was on Channel 4 reiterating the same and (encouragingly!) talking about Labour wanting turning the UK into a green energy leader with massive expansion in tidal, solar and on and off shore wind which would have the trifold benefit of providing jobs, increasing energy security and marching us towards emission targets the Tories are ignoring.

I'd really like to hear mentioned on top of that removing subsidies to fossil fuel companies and decoupling the price of electricity from that of gas.

The pipe dream is to hear of punitive climate crisis levies on fossil fuel companies who've actively funded 'research' and lobbied against greener energy production, even used their finanical clout to buy start ups and suppress them.

[inactionman]

Lets be clear, Johnson is a cunt, but his ability to connect with anyone from anywhere is pretty remarkable. I'd see him almost daily when he was Mayor chatting away to anyone who came up to him, binmen, city folk, and all left with a smile on their face. Lets be clear, Johnson is a cunt.

What's remarkable about cycling and talking to people? It was all just part of his act, does he bother with any of that now that con has been played?

The UK public wants leaders that pretend to be normal, it's probably stupid but that's what they want.

"Man cycles to work and talks to people" = Make this completely unsuitable cunt PM with a huge majority!
"Billionaire man takes helicopter rides everywhere" = Who does he think he is the PM or something! Get him out!

It was always a fraud. He never once had his bike nicked or got knocked off by a jaywalker on their mobile phone.

[tabascoboy]

[robmatic]

I've not been impressed with Sunak's oil and gas agenda as announced these last few days but describing Infosys as his family's business is not great journalism.

[sturginho]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66340991

And I thought my council was bad....

Now THAT is an actual issue with the Tories. It's hilariously bad

Further details here https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/s ... -taxpayers
Incredible really. Every time the public bears the cost.

And yet the idiots who bankrupted Northants county council all got reelected onto the new authority....

[I like neeps]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66340991

And I thought my council was bad....

Now THAT is an actual issue with the Tories. It's hilariously bad

The Tories plan of councils becoming investors was stupid because councils don't have that expertise.

In this case though, how's the guy not being arrested for fraud? Should be in jail for 10+ years.

[_Os_]

I've not been impressed with Sunak's oil and gas agenda as announced these last few days but describing Infosys as his family's business is not great journalism.

It was co-founded by Sunak's father in law and his family (his wife) is still invested and getting millions in dividend payments every year.

If it's not a family business and it's instead explained what it is in detail and how Sunak's family is benefitting. The question then becomes "why is the PM's family benefitting from a company that seems to be invested in Russia still, and why is the PM claiming Starmer wants Russian jobs protected?".

His family doesn't have to stay invested. If there's no family connection and it isn't a family business at all, and it really just is an investment, then sell the shares and invest elsewhere. It's not exactly "sell Coke, buy Pepsi" though.

[SaintK]

Move along, nothing to see here!

Jeremy Hunt oversaw the signing of a low-tax treaty with San Marino championed by a leading Tory donor, who with his companies has given more than £700,000 to the party and £30,000 to the chancellor.
Maurizio Bragagni, a prominent businessman and diplomat for San Marino, was present in No 11 Downing Street when a “double taxation” treaty between the UK and San Marino was signed in May.
Hunt is a former member of the APPG on San Marino and visited the small landlocked state, surrounded by Italy, in 2021, declaring hospitality from San Marino for four members of his family and himself, flights, accommodation and food with a total value of £7,869 over three days.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics ... bragagni

[JM2K6]

FWIW I saw Boris Johnson cycling to work when he was Mayor a few times...not sure it means anything about his character.

I also suspect a couple of the posters ardently complaining about this here could not care less about Nicola Sturgeons and other SG senior ministers preference for chauffeur driven cars instead of trains to travel around the central belt.

Hey do you think there's a small chance people consider cars to be completely different in cost and pollution to helicopters and private jets or were you just keen on getting some more whataboutery in?

[Insane_Homer]

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “By announcing hundreds of new oil and gas licences, the PM, Rishi Sunak, has become a dangerous radical pursuing moral and economic madness”

[sturginho]

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “By announcing hundreds of new oil and gas licences, the PM, Rishi Sunak, has become a dangerous radical pursuing moral and economic madness”

Yeah well what does he know?

[Mahoney]

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “By announcing hundreds of new oil and gas licences, the PM, Rishi Sunak, has become a dangerous radical pursuing moral and economic madness”

Just for anyone else who thought this unlikely, the quote is from 2022 and does not name Rishi Sunak.

Actual sourced quote:

Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But, the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.

Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness.

https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21228.doc.htm

[Slick]

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “By announcing hundreds of new oil and gas licences, the PM, Rishi Sunak, has become a dangerous radical pursuing moral and economic madness”

Just for anyone else who thought this unlikely, the quote is from 2022 and does not name Rishi Sunak.

Actual sourced quote:

Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But, the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.

Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness.

https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21228.doc.htm

Very unlike IH to post bullshit he hasn't checked

[sockwithaticket]

Fabricating specificity of the quote is certainly dumb, but it's hardly bullshit. The following was said, and Sunak has now become one of the people Guterres was talking about.

But, the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.

Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness.

[fishfoodie]

Unsurprising they sneaked this story out over the summer recess.

UK government climbs down on post-Brexit product mark

Adoption of Britain-only rival to EU’s CE designation postponed ‘indefinitely’, say ministers

The UK government has bowed to pressure from businesses and dropped rules to force companies to use a new post-Brexit replacement for the EU’s “CE” product quality mark.

The “indefinite” postponement was widely welcomed by industry and came after more than two years of intense lobbying to abandon the new rules.

The government has long portrayed the UKCA safety mark as a way the country can “take back control of our product regulations” in the wake of Brexit.

But the plans to establish a rival to the CE mark, which assures the safety of electronic, industrial and consumer goods, have been deeply unpopular with manufacturers and traders who see them as an additional burden.

The government said that under the indefinite delay, businesses would be free to use either the UKCA or the CE mark when placing goods on the UK market.

Kevin Hollinrake, business minister, said the decision was taken to reduce “red tape” on business and to “prevent a cliff-edge moment” ahead of the planned introduction of UKCA from the start of 2025.
....

https://www.ft.com/content/69783fa0-4f8 ... 976e20bed8

I'm sure an eyewatering amount of money has already been pissed away on this insanity.

[Hal Jordan]

It's almost as if Brexit was the stupidest, shittest idea since we decided to teach the Egyptians a lesson about a canal and found out just how much our power had waned since the Victoriam heyday of Empire engorged flagshaggers everywhere.

[SaintK]

He really isn't very good at the PR stuff with the "common man in the street" Even forgot he was now PM and not chancellor!!

In another all-round-awkward photoshoot for Sunak, he mistakenly referred to himself as the chancellor, his last job, before he was loudly heckled while pulling a pint of Black Dub stout at the Great British beer festival in west London.
As he poured the beer, part of a visit to promote changes to alcohol duty, Sunak was greeted by a shout of: “Prime minister, oh the irony that you’re raising alcohol duty on the day that you’re pulling a pint.”
After pulling the pint of stout made by the Wensleydale brewery based in his Yorkshire constituency, Sunak was asked by GB News to name his favourite pub, beginning the answer with: “Well, I’m a teetotal chancellor …

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ ... hoto-op

[tc27]

Unsurprising they sneaked this story out over the summer recess.

UK government climbs down on post-Brexit product mark

Adoption of Britain-only rival to EU’s CE designation postponed ‘indefinitely’, say ministers

The UK government has bowed to pressure from businesses and dropped rules to force companies to use a new post-Brexit replacement for the EU’s “CE” product quality mark.

The “indefinite” postponement was widely welcomed by industry and came after more than two years of intense lobbying to abandon the new rules.

The government has long portrayed the UKCA safety mark as a way the country can “take back control of our product regulations” in the wake of Brexit.

But the plans to establish a rival to the CE mark, which assures the safety of electronic, industrial and consumer goods, have been deeply unpopular with manufacturers and traders who see them as an additional burden.

The government said that under the indefinite delay, businesses would be free to use either the UKCA or the CE mark when placing goods on the UK market.

Kevin Hollinrake, business minister, said the decision was taken to reduce “red tape” on business and to “prevent a cliff-edge moment” ahead of the planned introduction of UKCA from the start of 2025.
....

https://www.ft.com/content/69783fa0-4f8 ... 976e20bed8

I'm sure an eyewatering amount of money has already been pissed away on this insanity.

There is now no practical reason not to return formally to the single market.

[Hal Jordan]

Unsurprising they sneaked this story out over the summer recess.

UK government climbs down on post-Brexit product mark

Adoption of Britain-only rival to EU’s CE designation postponed ‘indefinitely’, say ministers

The UK government has bowed to pressure from businesses and dropped rules to force companies to use a new post-Brexit replacement for the EU’s “CE” product quality mark.

The “indefinite” postponement was widely welcomed by industry and came after more than two years of intense lobbying to abandon the new rules.

The government has long portrayed the UKCA safety mark as a way the country can “take back control of our product regulations” in the wake of Brexit.

But the plans to establish a rival to the CE mark, which assures the safety of electronic, industrial and consumer goods, have been deeply unpopular with manufacturers and traders who see them as an additional burden.

The government said that under the indefinite delay, businesses would be free to use either the UKCA or the CE mark when placing goods on the UK market.

Kevin Hollinrake, business minister, said the decision was taken to reduce “red tape” on business and to “prevent a cliff-edge moment” ahead of the planned introduction of UKCA from the start of 2025.
....

https://www.ft.com/content/69783fa0-4f8 ... 976e20bed8

I'm sure an eyewatering amount of money has already been pissed away on this insanity.

There is now no practical reason not to return formally to the single market.

Traitor! Enemy of The People! Remoaner Thwarting The Will of The People! BRINO Enabler!

[fishfoodie]

Unsurprising they sneaked this story out over the summer recess.

UK government climbs down on post-Brexit product mark

Adoption of Britain-only rival to EU’s CE designation postponed ‘indefinitely’, say ministers

The UK government has bowed to pressure from businesses and dropped rules to force companies to use a new post-Brexit replacement for the EU’s “CE” product quality mark.

The “indefinite” postponement was widely welcomed by industry and came after more than two years of intense lobbying to abandon the new rules.

The government has long portrayed the UKCA safety mark as a way the country can “take back control of our product regulations” in the wake of Brexit.

But the plans to establish a rival to the CE mark, which assures the safety of electronic, industrial and consumer goods, have been deeply unpopular with manufacturers and traders who see them as an additional burden.

The government said that under the indefinite delay, businesses would be free to use either the UKCA or the CE mark when placing goods on the UK market.

Kevin Hollinrake, business minister, said the decision was taken to reduce “red tape” on business and to “prevent a cliff-edge moment” ahead of the planned introduction of UKCA from the start of 2025.
....

https://www.ft.com/content/69783fa0-4f8 ... 976e20bed8

I'm sure an eyewatering amount of money has already been pissed away on this insanity.

There is now no practical reason not to return formally to the single market.

There is on the EU side.

They've had to deal with this bullshit for years, spent billions on accommodating the UKs fit of pique, & will need to be convinced that the UK won't be in & out of the SM like a jockeys bollox, every election cycle.

[tc27]

Unsurprising they sneaked this story out over the summer recess.



https://www.ft.com/content/69783fa0-4f8 ... 976e20bed8

I'm sure an eyewatering amount of money has already been pissed away on this insanity.

There is now no practical reason not to return formally to the single market.

There is on the EU side.

They've had to deal with this bullshit for years, spent billions on accommodating the UKs fit of pique, & will need to be convinced that the UK won't be in & out of the SM like a jockeys bollox, every election cycle.

I actually agree that reasonably the EU/EEA nations would want to see a settled political consensus in favour ( so we are years away) but I think the UK economy inside the EEA (not full EU membership) would be welcomed by everybody.

[Insane_Homer]

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “By announcing hundreds of new oil and gas licences, the PM, Rishi Sunak, has become a dangerous radical pursuing moral and economic madness”

Just for anyone else who thought this unlikely, the quote is from 2022 and does not name Rishi Sunak.

Actual sourced quote:

Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But, the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.

Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness.

https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21228.doc.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ate-crisis

The bit he said in 2022 was

The truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels,” Guterres said in 2022

[_Os_]

a settled political consensus in favour ( so we are years away)

The "political consensus in favour" part is what's often ignored. It means nothing will change in the 2020s.

If you want to vote to join the SM, there's no party clearly offering it. The Tories and Labour are ruling it out. Greens have a confusing position and have inherited a lot of Labour's traditional anti-Europe outlook (capitalist plot etc). Lib Dems are the most pro, but they want to win Tory voters, it ends up hard to know what their position is beyond being the most pro-EU among anti-EU parties.

On the other hand, the ERG/Tory far right, know they can permanently block any pro-EU move if they never move from their hard Brexit position, blocking any consensus forming which isn't theirs. Everything points to the Tory leader after Sunak being another headbanger. If the Tory far right remains anti-EU and exists, then EU members are going to be less keen.

If Starmer/Labour form a government but fall short of expectations (they likely will, it's impossible to immediately undo the damage of the 2008 GFC/austerity/Brexit), UK politics would further fragment as people turn against the Tories and Labour. Traditionally the far left and far right have been anti-Europe, and would both grow in this scenario.

[sturginho]

There is now no practical reason not to return formally to the single market.

There is on the EU side.

They've had to deal with this bullshit for years, spent billions on accommodating the UKs fit of pique, & will need to be convinced that the UK won't be in & out of the SM like a jockeys bollox, every election cycle.

I actually agree that reasonably the EU/EEA nations would want to see a settled political consensus in favour ( so we are years away) but I think the UK economy inside the EEA (not full EU membership) would be welcomed by everybody.

Surely they could come up with a clever treaty that keeps us in the SM but with a name that implies the opposite like "Great Britain Freedom Sovereignty Princess Diana treaty" then whenever the Brexit loons complain about it the govt can retort that they must be against freedom, sovereignty and Princess Di

[Random1]

I have to agree - primary role of any Gov, regardless of colour, is to protect the population from harm. I suspect this current lot have forgot this?

The science is now pretty conclusive (it has been for some time) about global warming and climate change and what the likely outcomes are going to be, the speed and specifics are still unclear but if anything it looks like things are accelerating not slowing down. The recent stats about hottest day/month/year on record, fires burning across the Med and North America, flooding in Italy, etc is pretty scary. What any decent Gov should be doing is being clear about the scale and urgency of the problem and try to get some sort of cross party alliance and agreement, as we have had for wars and pandemics, around those actions that are just non-negotiable and get on with them asap. However I suspect our current Gov is either full of climate change deniers or is being held hostage by them, funded by dark oil money. Also there is now zero trust in the bunch of wankers that currently make up the cabinet even within their own party let alone the opposition so I cant see anyone willing to work alongside them. I am sure that many of the Tory bastards, sorry MPs, still believe Cameron was right with his "Green Crap' approach and even if they had seen the light, and the numerous scientific research papers, they couldn't possibly admit they were wrong and the woke, tofu eating, Guardian reading, socialist 'Stop the Oil' protestors were right all along. They will just dig the trenches deeper for the woke war to come ... dont look up!

I think there's a few other factors at work, a key one being the mindset of 'why should we do this when it's China/India etc etc currently making most of the mess'

Even in this flawed context, a forward-thinking person might have concluded that being a global incubator for green technology would be a Very Good Thing.

I'd like to see the stats that tend to be shown on carbon emissions by country at least have alongside it the consumer country as well as the producer country.

Gut feel suggests that if we looked by consumer rather that producer that it would tell a different picture.

Different picture yes, but not as big a difference as you’d think.

Here’s a decent report on it. https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-worl ... exporters/

Summary would be; it knocks some shine off the west’s virtue signalling of CO2 reductions, but China and India are still the biggest producers even after that is taken into account.

[Slick]

There is on the EU side.

They've had to deal with this bullshit for years, spent billions on accommodating the UKs fit of pique, & will need to be convinced that the UK won't be in & out of the SM like a jockeys bollox, every election cycle.

I actually agree that reasonably the EU/EEA nations would want to see a settled political consensus in favour ( so we are years away) but I think the UK economy inside the EEA (not full EU membership) would be welcomed by everybody.

Surely they could come up with a clever treaty that keeps us in the SM but with a name that implies the opposite like "Great Britain Freedom Sovereignty Princess Diana treaty" then whenever the Brexit loons complain about it the govt can retort that they must be against freedom, sovereignty and Princess Di