BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Nov 24 - 07:54 AM

Neither arguing nor being disingenuous, BWM. Just failing to understand your comment about ugly bickering and you failing to justify it. I am in full agreement that it did seem to dominate this thread and many others a long time ago but you seem to be getting wound up about something that I have either said nor done more recently. Feel free to keep whatever it is to yourself and I am happy to leave it as one of life's little mysteries.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Thompson
Date: 18 Nov 24 - 02:21 PM

At my advanced age but deep immaturity I have finally learned that the best way to deal with someone trailing their coat for a row is
a) ignore the coat-trailing, and
b) change the subject.
So (ahem) I've just seen Small Things Like These and found it superb. It's a film version of Claire Keegan's novella about a Magdalen Laundry. Blew me away. Superb acting from all, wonderful filming of New Ross in atmospheric rain and snow, a deep quality of silence from Cillian Murphy.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Thompson
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 02:47 AM

The UK's two busiest train stations will be closed over Christmas. Sweet suffering mother of the divine Jesus.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: DaveRo
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 03:23 AM

Why do you find this surprising? There are fewer passengers at Christmas and by shutting them completely they get the work done sooner, with less economic disruption.

Have you seen pictures of Belfast's new Grand Central Station BTW? Unlike in London they had plenty of space to rebuild it.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 07:09 AM

Paddington closed over Christmas for important works.

The train companies have already planned for this. They have also recently tested (at weekends) trains from Euston to South Wales / South West. So the temporary closure of Paddington should not be a major problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 07:44 AM

Has it gone to Peru? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Thompson
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 09:13 AM

I would've thought lots of people would be getting the train home for Christmas.
As for that undocumented migrant Paddington, say no more!

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: DaveRo
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 09:20 AM

Let's hope they get on the right train at Euston.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 12:05 PM

Once again, one of Putin's poodles has threatened our obliteration. Still when the non-victors on both sides are combing the ashes, then will both be claiming a victory for their side. Sweden has already told its population to stock up on emergency rations s I guess it won't be long before shopper start behaving like mindless morons and start stripping the shop shelves bare with panic buying with the supermarkets failing to step up to ensure that their shelves remain fully stocked for those who don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 03:31 AM

Read a good one this morning, a comment on the farmers’ demo and Parliament yesterday - “It must be fancy dress season in the House of Commons, I’ve never seen so many MPs dressed as farmers”.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 07:39 AM

Did anyone see Clarkson trying to bully Victoria Derbyshire on the news yesterday? I used to think he was a bit of a knob but quite funny with it. Now I see he is just an obnoxious shit.

I am still unsure about the ins and outs of the inheritance tax on farms as we have the government saying it will only affect the 500 richest farm owners and farmers saying it will affect far more. I was giving farmers the benefit of the doubt until I saw his odious bullying tactics on the news. He is doing all the honest, hardworking farmers a great disservice.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 09:02 AM

I read two good comments on social media this morning. I’m not naming the people who wrote them because I don’t know them personally, but I feel their views are well worth repeating…

The first…

”Farms have become a financial tool to avoid inheritance tax. This is why the value of farmland has increased so dramatically.
The new inheritance tax rates on farms will help stop that , it's actually in real farmers favour, if their farm land hadn't been inflated artificially they wouldn't need to worry, they would have been below the threshold anyway.”

and the second…

”Farming needs to be supported of course, but the inheritance tax is possibly not the best thing to protest about as it will affect a small number of farmers and rich landowners like Dyason and Clarkson who bought land to avoid paying inheritance tax. HMRC figures suggest that once allowances are taken into account; a married couple £2 million,plus £650,000 joint allowances, plus £175,000 allowance if it's being passed on to children/grandchildren amounts to £3 million payable at 20% (half normal rate) over ten years without interest accruing. I think the more important things to protest about are the broken promises of a disastrous Brexit, the failure to fully replace the EU farming subsidy, the removal of freedom of movement as many farms depended on seasonal workers from abroad, increased red tape for exporting goods and food, the pathetic trade deals with NZ and Australia which do nothing for British farmers. The post-Brexit farming payment scheme aimed at encouraging good environmental practices, has had the effect of making it more profitable to take fields out of food production and turn them into wildflower meadows or fill them with trees. Brexit has done little for British farmers except increasing costs, red tape, barriers and low quality competitors. The government should be doing more to support farmers by addressing those issues.”

Both of those posts strike me as insightful, and have the ring of truth about them, IMHO.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 09:06 AM

And I’ve always thought Clarkson was a gobby knob. Having him and Badenoch as speakers at the demo yesterday does the farmers’ cause no service at all, IMHO.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 10:56 AM

BWM:
I'm glad you like that quote:
”Farms have become a financial tool to avoid inheritance tax. This is why the value of farmland has increased so dramatically.
The new inheritance tax rates on farms will help stop that , it's actually in real farmers favour, if their farm land hadn't been inflated artificially they wouldn't need to worry, they would have been below the threshold anyway.”

I would question their claim that the 'value' of farmland has increased.
The price has increased, but as the second paragraph makes clear, the price is 'artificially inflated' so the value is unchanged.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 11:21 AM

Agreed, Nigel. I’m pretty sure that ‘value’ and ‘price’ are conflated in many people’s minds but, of course, they aren’t necessarily the same thing.

But I think we both know what the author of the piece meant, don’t we?

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 20 Nov 24 - 11:44 AM

Agreed, Nigel: ihat's the difference between value and valuation. Once money is involved, and the numbers get nontrivial, the discussion becomes very one-dimensional ("Is this number bigger than that one?"), and common sense goes out to lunch.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Nov 24 - 01:33 PM

The case against the inheritance tax on farm land is rapidly becoming a laughing stock. Not only do we have the self confessed tax avoider, Clarkson, on the campaign but I see the odious Farage is also on the bandwagon. So leading the farmers in opposing the tax we have a man who has openly done damage to the case against the tax and the man who initiated Brexit and lost the farmers all their EU subsidies.

You couldn't make this stuff up!

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Nov 24 - 02:10 PM

The Mad Hatters Tea Party

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 23 Nov 24 - 02:35 PM

Paul Openshaw, Dorset folksinger, has a worm farm. I wonder if he could claim tax relief on his worms.

When we were in the EU, I used to urge him to try for an EU subsidy.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Nov 24 - 04:15 PM

In this world which is getting more and more closely interconnected, we have to learn to tolerate each other. We have to learn to put up with the fact that some people say things that we don't like. We can only live together in that way, and if we are to live together and not die together we must learn the kind of charity and kind of tolerance which is absolutely vital to the continuation of human life on this planet.”
— Bertrand Russell, BBC Face to Face Interview (5 March 1959)

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Nov 24 - 05:33 PM

Nice philosophy, Dick, but nowt to do with UK politics. Feel free to start a thread on the wisdom of Russell and I am sure it would be a great success.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 01:41 AM

Calling Farage odious achieves nowt hence the relevance of the quote to to UK politics
quote
"We have to learn to put up with the fact that some people say things that we don't like. We can only live together in that way, and if we are to live together and not die together we must learn the kind of charity and kind of tolerance which is absolutely vital to We have to learn to put up with the fact that some people say things that we don't like. We can only live together in that way, and if we are to live together and not die together we must learn the kind of charity and kind of tolerance which is absolutely vital to the continuation of human life on this planet.”
the UK support of USA sending long range missiles to attack Russia is endangering the continuation of human life on this planet.”

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 05:02 AM

Farage is a UK politician. Russell is not. Yes, it would be lovely if everyone was nice to each other but that is not going to happen on a politics thread now us it?

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 11:56 AM

let us start, why not

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 12:13 PM

Oh, the delicious irony!

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 03:50 AM

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24746978.tobacco-restriction-plans-will-save-lives-scotland/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-gb LINK about new tobacco bill

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 04:04 AM

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smoking-ban-introduced-to-protect-children-and-most-vulnerable
link from gov uk

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 04:14 AM

I can see the reasoning there and it makes sense to me. But I am an ex-smoker so probably biased. The worry is, will tobacco become like other restricted drugs and just go underground. Making money for criminal gangs :-(

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 04:30 AM

yes good point, Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 04:34 AM

and then we have the problem of the island of Ireland, where the north is in the UK, so smugglers will be encouraged to cross the border etc

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Nov 24 - 11:32 AM

vote passed to ban smoking for anyone born after 2008

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 27 Nov 24 - 12:32 PM

vote passed to ban smoking for anyone born after 2008

Actually, vote passed to continue considering this measure.
The bill will face further scrutiny from MPs and peers but is likely to become law.

BBC here

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Rain Dog
Date: 11 Dec 24 - 02:52 PM

An article from Byline Times

‘Britain’s Deeply Unfair Two-Party Electoral System is Dying and MPs Know It’

Labour's huge majority of seats flatters to deceive but I doubt they will do anything to try and make elections fairer.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Thompson
Date: 11 Dec 24 - 04:59 PM

The problem with illegal drugs isn't just that they make monsters into millionaires but that when a drug (medical or recreational) is produced without government oversight, testing and auditing, it tends to be cut with God knows what. In my youth, there were occasional deaths when batches of heroin would be cut with Sanilav, a corrosive toilet cleaner.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Dec 24 - 02:29 AM

That would send anyone clean round the bend

I'll get my coat...

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Dec 24 - 01:21 PM

Prince Andrew, what are your opinions on the disappearance of his papers

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Dec 24 - 04:50 PM

Don't think he comes here. You'll have to answer your own question.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Dec 24 - 03:29 AM

Subject matter Prince Andrew.
what are forum members opinions on the disappearance of his business papers

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Dec 24 - 04:16 AM

Couldn't care less and nowt to do with Brexit or UK politics.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Dec 24 - 04:18 AM

Neither could I, Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Dec 24 - 10:05 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovEVIc6pTI0
"Politicians and royals need to be extremely vigilant of Chinese spies", shadow home secretary Chris Philp warns

"A Chinese man who befriended Prince Andrew has been banned from the UK after a judge said the man had an "unusual" degree of trust from the royal" quote
and Dave the Gnome, thinks it has nothing to do with uk politics,
SKY NEWS Thinks Differently so does the shadow home secretary

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Dec 24 - 06:33 PM

Does anyone really believe that royalty has any place in politics nowadays? It's just an attenton grabber for the hard of thinking and I will give it no further airtime here. If you think it is worth discussing further then feel free to run with it and see how far you get.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 03:46 AM

if you do not want to contribute go somewhere else.
the chinese spy clearly thought differently from you, and thought Andrew was worth cultivating, but then the chinese are clever people

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 04:03 AM

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/15/prince-andrew-royal-family-alleged-chinese-spy-controversy-christmas
A link frpom todays Guardian, who unlike Dave, think it is of importance and has a connection with UK politics

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 04:25 AM

If it is an attempt to whip up anti chinese sentiment, it is very much to do with uk politics
here is another link in which ian duncan smith makes allegations link from the guardian
ttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/16/prince-andrew-alleged-chinese-spy-naming?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-gb

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 05:23 AM

Must get very lonely down in West Cork

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Dec 24 - 09:50 AM

not at all, i have been playing music with a friend this morning. tomorrow i am teaching music, and weds playing music with another friend.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 04:22 AM

Now that that lead balloon has gone down maybe we can get back to UK politics.

If anyone needs any proof that Starmer is simply a Tory in sheep's clothing we need look no further than his policy on housing. Building 1.5 million new homes will do nothing to ease the housing crisis. That has been brought on by years of allowing developers and landlords to hoard property and charge rents that those in most need can never afford. Put rented property back in the control of local authorities and stop profiteering on property. Allowing developers to build on green belt will do nothing but increase the profits of those developers and those who will buy to rent out. So called affordable housing is a joke to those who can no longer afford a deposit, let alone those with no home at all

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 09:33 AM

A,en to that, Dave. The foul hag Thatcher’s Big Con Trick - forcing local authorities to sell off their housing stock cheap to sitting tenants, but blocking the building of replacement stock. Pretending it was for the benefit of the tenants, but knowing full well that many (most?) of the houses sold off would eventually end up in the hands of private landlords.

Of course, she couldn’t say that she was privatising rented housing, but that’s effectively what she did.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics - 3
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 01:26 PM

It could get worse I suppose. At least we don't have Elon Musk trying to manipulative UK politics by funding the Reform Party

Oh, hang on...