BS: Brexit & other UK political topics

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 Jul 21 - 10:06 AM

So what about the animal sentience case?

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 06 Jul 21 - 11:02 AM

So what about the animal sentience case

I haven't really followed it, to be honest, but my limited understanding is that it is not really about whether animals are sentient or not in actuality - which is essentially a scientific and philosophical question - but about exactly which existing laws apply to which animals. So an animal could be legally "not sentient" while passing some scientific tests, or vice versa.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 06 Jul 21 - 08:30 PM

...And I've just spotted irrefutable evidence that you, too, DMcG, read Marina Hyde... ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 07 Jul 21 - 02:57 AM

I confess to doing so. I would like you to take reading John Crace into account when deciding on your sentence.

Though his column is only occasional, David Mitchell is always worth a read as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: peteglasgow
Date: 07 Jul 21 - 03:29 AM

for the snp their opposition to the tories is unchanging and resolute. labour lost much of its support there as they are seen as 'in bed with the tories' and more likely to co-operate with them in sniping at the scottish government. were labour to offer a clearer opposition to tory rule and adopt some snp policies in england (elderly care, student fees, trident etc) then the need for scottish independence would decline and if they offered a proper partnership and more autonomy to scotland then it should not be beyond the wit of reasonable people to work for their mutual benefit. however, ignoring scotland, patronising them or cheating them yet again will prolong the agony for labour and give the call for independence another boost. a half decent, consensual, yet solidly anti-tory westminster government is what is needed both sides the tweed.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 07 Jul 21 - 03:48 AM

Talking of reading: I have never read "The Fountainhead", though I have read extracts and reviews, most of which think it is philosophically feeble and, from the point of view of pure literature, very poorly written. The extracts I have read make me inclined to agree. But given it seems to have so many fans in government, I suppose I will have to get around to it and after all many influential books are not great page turners.

Anyone else read it?

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Jul 21 - 04:27 AM

My sister met John Crace a couple of years ago when she was President of the NAHT. She's never stopped telling us what a very nice and very funny man he is. I loved his Digested Reads...

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Jul 21 - 04:35 AM

Good post, pete, and it chimes for me with what I was saying about Labour's rigidly ideological position with regard to greater autonomy/independence for Scotland. As I said, whether one agrees with the push for independence or not, there is a serious argument to be made for it, and failure to embrace that discussion in a constructive way was/still is a great way of alienating Scottish voters. Even here in Cornwall we are irritated by the blatantly London-centric UK political system.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 07 Jul 21 - 05:17 AM

Not so much London Centric, but more London Elite (+the shires) centric. London is probably the most economically and socially dividied part of the country.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 13 Jul 21 - 08:09 PM

BBC Hardtalk interview Jess Phillips


?????????????????????????

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jul 21 - 08:16 PM

I can't stand the woman. Another anticorbynite. A born loser for Labour. I'll watch it tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Jul 21 - 08:54 PM

GB News too woke for its viewers !!!

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: peteglasgow
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 04:25 PM

does anyone else feel the tide just may be beginning to turn?

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 05:40 PM

Maybe. I have heard very few people in real life who are happy with the changes on the 19th. My wife was in the hairdressers today and they were saying how worried they are. After all, it is close contact with people for extended periods. They can and will continue to wear masks but it will be much harder to insist their customers do. Prof Chris Whitty said on Thursday that restrictions may need to be reimposed in as little as five weeks, before the end of the summer holidays. Big rises in cases and significant increases in hospitalisations and deaths, followed by yet another lockdown too late? I have felt for a while that Johnson's popularity will stay steady for a few more months and then will crack quite sharply: I see a sudden fall, not a gradual decline.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 06:00 PM

What an idiot he was to big up next Monday as "freedom day." We will still have to wear masks everywhere we had to wear them before. Travel will still be just as restricted. Wow, I can go the bar at the pub and jostle with a whole bunch of half-pissed people to get served. Wow. That bloody pinging app is wrecking businesses but he won't scrap what's his 34 billion baby. I've actually deleted it. Turn off your phone, no ping. Don't have a phone, no ping. Bluetooth off, no ping. Didn't download the app, no ping. And it all relies on the person you're in contact with not having any of those attributes. It's a farce. A typical Johnson farce. But he'll get away with it. I watched Starmer at Blackpool Tower and my buttocks have never been so tightly clenched....

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 06:11 PM

Ah, the dreaded ping.

My sister is nearing end-of-life. We thought it imminent but the latest prognosis is maybe 12 more weeks. As a result, I took a six hour train journey last week. On Wednesday I got the 'ping': isolate for five days because of someone of the train (probably). I got this alert while out with some friends celebrating their 60th. That also blew up a long arranged meeting with friends on Thursday, seeing my son and daughter-in-law for only the second time since this thing started on Friday afternoon, missing my (prospective) son-in-law's father's 80th birthday celebrations on Friday evening, and we had things lined up for Sunday as well.

But on the bright side I am not trying to live off a zero hour contract.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 10:50 AM

Hairdressers have the right to not serve customers without masks, and they could urn this into a marketing opportunity that they are a safer place to go for a hairdo than those who allow customers in with masks.

With regards to the track and trace, there still needs to be legislation giving employees the right to full occupational sick pay for quarantine (based on contractual hour or regular working patterns).which can be reclaimed 100% by small businesses.

Similarly for those retuning form France who have been fully vaccinated ahead of johnson changing the goalposts 8pm on Friday. Hopefully the airlines, ferries and rail services have been forced by Johnson to lay on additional free of charge capacity so people can get home on Sunday night - though again, I would accept an obligation to pay people full occupational sick pay for the time they are required to quarantine if they can't get back on time.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Rain Dog
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 11:05 AM

Technically all businesses have the right to refuse to serve customers, though it is not so easy to do so in this day and age.

"Hopefully the airlines, ferries and rail services have been forced by Johnson to lay on additional free of charge capacity so people can get home on Sunday night"

Forced? Do you really mean that? Or did you mean to say that the taxpayer should pay to ensure that everyone gets back on time?

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 11:43 AM

It is the difficulty that is the problem, I think.

Imagine a customers comes in and, somewhat aggressively, refuses to wear a mask and says it is their choice, and the government agrees, and what are you going to do about it?

Yes, you can refuse. When you do so, you are probably refusing their custom for all time, and possibly that of some of their friends. That is not an easy decision after a year or more of very little income.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Rain Dog
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 12:21 PM

I agree DMcG, the 'muddle' is not helping anyone. I was at my local pub last Wednesday night, and they are unsure as to how they will proceed with the changes.

Though I look forward to the day that i can sit at the bar again, I think that day is still a way off.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 06:35 PM

I may be in a minority of one in saying the following, but here goes. In England, even in these fraught times, around one person in a hundred currently has the disease. So (and this is very ballpark...) if you see 100 people wearing masks, 99% of them are doing it needlessly. In Wales it's three times even more needless. On top of that, many thousands of people are being pinged to be told to self-isolate for ten days. The vast, overwhelming majority of these people are completely healthy, and a free test that you can do at home in half an hour can show it. Whole factories and transport systems are being closed down by an app which is probably the worst idea ever from a man who specialises in very bad ideas. Well it's an app that I no longer have. Ping me and advise me to be careful and get a test, fine. Ping me to tell me to lock myself away, no thanks. I'll have to continue to wear a mask even though they're useless (in my opinion, how long have you got...) I've had enough of this. This disease will never go away. It'll grumble along in the background, with occasional surges, for decades. I don't want to hear any more guff about "saving lives." We can all save lives by never going out of our houses. What joy!

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 02:00 AM

I don't agree, Steve, as you anticipated. I don't think there is anything to be gained by a protracted argument, but I will just pick up on one point:

if you see 100 people wearing masks, 99% of them are doing it needlessly

That is true in one sense, since 99 do not have the disease, but it is a significant fact that you don't know which one. And so you cannot isolate them to control the disease.

Given that, the important thing is the payoff. Compare with these two games. In the first, you pay £1 for a ticket, but one in a hundred wins a £500,000 prize. Do you play? Especially if you can buy multiple tickets? I certainly do! Conversely, the same game with a £5 prize? No, I don't play.

So the "99 free from infection when only one is infected" leaves out a critical factor, which is the impact of that one infected person (given we don't know which of the hundred it is.)

Vaccination certainly reduces the impact significantly, so we are not in the position we were at the start. But I think relaxing almost everything on 19th is unwise, I would certainly have kept the mask rules in place.   Many people, including the Health Secretary of State ask 'if not now, when'? My answer is when cases, hospitalisations and deaths have been sufficiently low for an extended period. Hardening that up, I'd say cases stable at the level of a few hundred at most for several weeks.

As for the fact it will always be with us. I agree, so we will have to run 'forever' a system for detecting outbreaks and dealing with local outbreaks. As we do for other diseases.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: robomatic
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 02:47 AM

As always, politics and medicine do not go together well. Does the UK have its own version of Anthony Fauci, someon who can be considered an uninterested medical expert?

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 03:01 AM

We have a number of people, such as Professor Whitty, who were regarded as broadly apolitical when they first appeared. There was even an occasion when one of the scientific advisors basically contradicted what the government spokesman said and left no room for doubt that is what he was saying. He was not invited back to press conferences for some time.

But more recently, they have seen seen as too close to the politicians, rather than presenting the straight scientific advice.

Dr Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, condemned the government’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. Horton stated, “The faux deference that you saw from both of them to the prime minister [at Monday’s Downing Street press conference] in trying to shore up his decision making, I thought, was an abdication of their independent role as government advisers.”

Referring to Whitty’s claim that there was “widespread agreement across the scientific community” with the government’s position, Horton commented, “I’m afraid you have to conclude that the chief medical officer is wilfully misrepresenting scientific opinion across the country, and that is extraordinary to observe.”

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 05:47 AM

The hole in your argument is the point I keep on coming back to. Right, you don't know which one out of the hundred may be infected. But, unlike your lottery tickets, which give you verifiable odds of winning, most (yes, really) of the hundred mask wearers will be illicitly reusing masks, touching the front at extremely frequent intervals, scratching their nose through it, taking it off to sneeze or blow their nose, putting it up in shops and down again on the chin when they return outside, shoving it in their pocket next to their snot rags and loose change, etc. Ninety-nine out of a hundred will not have coronavirus, but a good proportion of them will still be creating an insanitary and hazardous item. And all that we've been told about masks will makes lots of people complacent in a way that will affect their behaviour. And the one infected person is just as likely to be showing this bad mask behaviour, if not not more so (there's a good chance that they didn't feel well before going out but decided to shove that under the carpet, just the kind of inconsiderate person who would think nothing of indulging in bad mask behaviour). Fixed-odds lottery tickets are stubbornly inanimate and unchanging objects. A human being wearing a mask is just that, a human being.

I won't be going on crowded buses or trains. I'm going to do my shopping at quiet times. No pubs or theatres for me. I don't trust everyone to do the right thing, which involves staying at home if you don't feel well. But one fine day, when this is all done and dusted, we will be told that wearing masks was almost certainly doing more harm than good. Hindsight will prove to be a wonderful thing. We don't do this for flu, which can kill tens of thousands in a bad winter (we had one such just a few years ago), and we don't do it for colds, or even stop people with colds going into old people's homes. Rationality has flown out of the window in my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 05:49 AM

Though I look forward to the day that i can sit at the bar again, I think that day is still a way off.

I find people who sit at the bar to be a pain in the bum when I am trying order and collect my drinks. Make the transaction then move out of the way to leave it free for the next people, as far as I am concerned. There are a few things that I would be glad to see not return to 'normal'.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 06:01 AM

I completely agree, Doug - ‘Bar-Flies’ are a complete pain in the rectum, especially the ones who seem to resent anyone else trying to get to ‘their bar’ for a drink, and who deliberately ‘spread themselves’ as wide as possible to prevent others’ access.

Back in the day when I played several nights a week in the clubs around Yorks., Notts., Leics., and Lincs., ‘Bar-Flies’ were forbidden and everyone had to move away from the bar behind a rail after they’d been served. Saved a lot of argument.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 06:52 AM

‘Bar-Flies’ were forbidden

should have been, ‘Bar Flies’ were frequently forbidden…

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 07:00 AM

In many ways It's quite handy I gave up drinking for health and finance reasons two and a half years ago..

.. but anyway, all my favourite local old fashioned rough tatty pubs with authentic character and atmosphere,
have closed permamently...

Shut down and converted into flats in recent years before covid;
and the last one closed for good with the death of it's popular old landlord at the start of the pandemic.

He was an independent stubornly commited to CAMRA - the last of a near extict breed...

Others in town will never reopen due to covid, but that's the ruthless uncaring nature of survival of the fittest capitalism..


Personally, I had already got used to the normality of an alchohol free stay at home lifestyle well before this crisis...

So, I've no time for pathetic / callous bleating on about the adverse effects on mass public mental health
from going without a pint in a crowded overpriced pub,
far outweighing potential fatalities from in-pub covid transmission..

That's basically just cynical media propaganda from political shills for the big hospitality profiteers...

Roll on freedom day celebrations, and the inevitable expendable death toll...

..at least with only long covid, survivors might still carry on going out paying for a regular theraputic booze session..

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 07:25 AM

”In many ways It's quite handy I gave up drinking for health…. reasons two and a half years ago..”

I gave up almost sixteen years ago, on the advice of my hepatobiliary consultant (to quote his exact words, “Alcohol is a pancreas-killer”). I hardly ever miss it - the only times I do are when we go to Crete on holiday, and when we’re cooking our Christmas dinner.

I wasn’t a boozer, but I enjoyed a few pints on a Friday night at our folk club, and a nice dram or tot two or three nights a week at home. All done now, but I’ve lived to tell the tale - my wife’s friend, who had the same health problems as me, and who ignored the warnings about alcohol, died two years ago at the age of 47 from pancreas/liver failure. Too young. Too sad.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Jul 21 - 07:41 AM

Off on a tangent, some friends of mine recorded a tribute song to Georgie Best with all monies going to a suitable charity. The organisation involved and Georgie's estate were very pleased but asked if the lads could put it out without using their existing band name - The Barflies :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 20 Jul 21 - 02:26 AM

Two disturbing stories were in the Guardian today. One concerned a consultation under way about secrecy and the document is claimed to contain the proposal than the penalties ought to “be imposed by the executive rather than the courts”.

I am not aware of any existing UK law where punishments on individuals are at the whim of a minister without involving the courts. If this is actually what is being proposed, it should be dropped immediately. Arbitrary powers of fines and imprisonment vested in an individual? That is more like an absolute monarchy than a democracy.

The second is a reorganisation of the National Grid (the company, not the physical infrastructure) :

The government plans to strip National Grid of its role keeping Great Britain’s lights on as part of a proposed “revolution’” in the electricity network driven by smart digital technologies.


I hold no particular view on the structure and role of National Grid, but unless someone has the explicit responsibility to 'keep the lights on' we are heading straight for the problems Texas has had recently, where it could not meet the demand for electricity.

As it happens, I have a little knowledge of this area, via my now-deceased father-in-law who had a role in the design of the UK national grid, and similar grids for other countries. Without going into any details, the essential idea behind the grid that you need generating capacity in excess of the demand, in the form of power stations you can turn on if needed, but almost 100% of the time they are not in use.

Which was always a bone of contention with people who saw this as simply waste. They took the view that this is just a supply-and-demand problem, and rather than being able to increase supply, what you should do is reduce demand. At the time, the idea was entirely about profit, so reducing costs (by having less generators to maintain) while increasing income (by charging more to reduce demand) was far more attractive. So there is a decades-long argument between those who think a reliable power source is fundamental to the ability of UK business generally to fulfil their role and increase GDP that way, and those who see electricity as just another business with no special UK-wide responsibility.

These days, however, green thinking adds a further layer of complication: reducing demand is desirable for other reasons, not just the balance sheet of the generating companies. You do need to avoid what is called 'the diesel dilemma', though, which is where companies and businesses which need a reliable supply install diesel generators as backup, because these, while relatively cheap individually, in aggregate are far more expensive and resource-intensive than the centralised standby generators, and far more polluting as well.

So to summarise: I care little about what happens to National Grid as a company. I do care about what, if anything, happens to the remit to ensure continuity of supply.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 20 Jul 21 - 04:05 AM

Not so much absolute monarchy, but absolute autocracy, possibly even absolute plutocratic autocracy. The interests of the state should never take precedence over the rule of law - but the tories have been sabre rattling for some time when they have been obstructed for carrying out illegal acts.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 20 Jul 21 - 04:09 AM

As long as it doesn't include new taxes (which can be pinned elsewhere), the government will be able, because of their majority, to behave as oppressively as they wish, as long as voters think it will be 'someone else' who is being oppressed: EU nationals', asylum seekers, single parents etc e whatever is flavour of the month. And tory voters will lap it up.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 01:55 AM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000xr8
0Episode 1 of 3

Andrea Catherwood crosses the Irish Sea and goes back home to Northern Ireland to ask what unionism means now and explore some of the challenges it faces.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 09:59 AM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xr80 Andrea Catherwood crosses the Irish Sea and goes back home to Northern Ireland to ask what unionism means now and explore some of the challenges it faces.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 11:15 AM

Not very encouraging programmes there, Sandman, but well worth listening to. It is a pity that so many, even now, think there are simple solutions to these issues. One particularly discouraging point was that so many people who were in the recent fighting were born after the GFA came into being.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: robomatic
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 11:18 AM

Briefly returning to the question of determining who was an uninterested 'expert' I now understand that even these people cannot escape politicization after a spell. Yesterday Dr. Fauci was testifying in Congress and had a contentious spell under leading questions of Sen. Rand Paul. I support the Fauci side of that exchange, but in having to use the word 'support' I suppose I'm admitting that the issues are political as well as health orientated. It's a question of whom to believe in regards to facts.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 11:51 AM

Great news - johnson sent a demand to the EU demanding that they tear up the withdrawal deal. After a massive three hours of delibeartion they said - NO!

Johnson reminds me of someone who sells his house, than change his mind about moving and refuse to hand the keys over, and when the new owner brings the locksmith round decides to raze the building to the ground.

I suppose what johnson really wanted was for the people of Ireland to come back under English rule to solve his problem and keep the bigots voting for him and swear an oath of allegiance to the tory party every morning - maybe even force every home to fly a union flag with a picture of thatcher in the middle. (IRONY)

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 12:31 PM

”Briefly returning to the question of determining who was an uninterested 'expert' I now understand that even these people cannot escape politicization after a spell. Yesterday Dr. Fauci was testifying in Congress and had a contentious spell under leading questions of Sen. Rand Paul. I support the Fauci side of that exchange, but in having to use the word 'support' I suppose I'm admitting that the issues are political as well as health orientated. It's a question of whom to believe in regards to facts.”

Robo, please note the thread title. AFAICS, your post has nothing to do with Brexit, or UK politics in general, it concerns US issues. We are permitted only one UK politics thread, whereas there is no limit to the number of US political threads.

Would you be so kind as to restrict your postings about US politics to US political threads, and refrain from cluttering up our one and only UK politics thread with meaningless (in terms of UK politics) ‘stuff’?

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 12:37 PM

”Great news - johnson sent a demand to the EU demanding that they tear up the withdrawal deal. After a massive three hours of delibeartion they said - NO!”

Good to see that it’s all going so well… ?? ??

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 01:43 PM

DMcG I agree,Ulster says no yet again instead of looking at what positives might be obtained

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Rain Dog
Date: 29 Jul 21 - 01:13 PM

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has raised more than £200,000 in a single day after defending its work rescuing migrants at risk of drowning in the Channel, while volunteering inquiries have almost quadrupled.

The RNLI said it had been inundated with donations and messages of support since its chief executive hit out at Nigel Farage’s claim that it was running a “migrant taxi service”.

Guardian newspaper

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jul 21 - 03:09 AM

Farage says that the RNLI is "doing the wrong thing" by rescuing migrants. What a wanker. He really is desperate for media attention isn't he. Hopefully he will go the way of the horrendous Hopkins woman and go down the drain with the rest of the sewage.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Rain Dog
Date: 30 Jul 21 - 07:38 AM

More than 1,300 people died of drug misuse in Scotland last year, with the country seeing a record number of deaths for the seventh year in a row.

The annual figures showed that there were 1,339 drug deaths last year - an increase of 75 from the 1,264 recorded the previous year.

It means Scotland continues to have by far the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in Europe.

And its rate is more than three-and-a-half times that of England and Wales.

The number of drug-related deaths has increased substantially over the past 20 years and is now almost three times higher than it was a decade ago, with the upward trend accelerating since 2013.


Drug deaths in Scotland reach new record level


A shocking and depressing statistic.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Aug 21 - 01:48 AM

i agree,Dave,Farage is despicable

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 04 Aug 21 - 03:50 PM

NHS falls from.first to fourth place

Safe in their hands, it seems.

It is not due to the pandemic either: it was falling

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: DMcG
Date: 04 Aug 21 - 03:54 PM

... before the pandemic. Also, everyone else is having to deal with it as well. Javid, recall, warned us the waiting list could go as high as 13 million.

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: Rain Dog
Date: 06 Aug 21 - 02:23 PM

We are living in strange times.

Police helpless after thief passed border on French soil at Dover

Subject: RE: BS: Brexit & other UK political topics
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 06 Aug 21 - 05:45 PM

Serves the pub owners right for allowing 62% of voters in Dover to vote leave. KARMA.