The General UK Politics (Past and Present) Discussion Thread

1323335373855

Comments

  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,427MI6 Agent
    That'll be interesting, but I don't think we'll have to wait 30 years for most of it. 5-20 years from now, perhps. There'll be leaks, biographies, autobiographies and documentaries.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    ..... tea towels, face cloths, T-shirts and underwear.
    I have my Remain pants on now emblazoned with
    The legend " I pull out for nobody " ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,427MI6 Agent
    :)) :)) :))
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 38,087Chief of Staff
    :D :D :D very good!
  • Ens007Ens007 EnglandPosts: 863MI6 Agent
    Not sure if this has been mentioned, but this is a beyond alarming report regarding Italy:

    https://twitter.com/richardwellings/status/1120264185382879233?s=21
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,427MI6 Agent
    It's worrying. Italy is a far bigger economy than Greece or Iceland. Their national debt is huge and there's not really enough political will to avoid an even bigger debt. One of the major parties even offered big economical stimulus' for pet owners to get votes!
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,866MI6 Agent
    Ens007 wrote:
    Not sure if this has been mentioned, but this is a beyond alarming report regarding Italy:

    https://twitter.com/richardwellings/status/1120264185382879233?s=21

    Just another reason why leaving the EU is a good idea. Is another bail-out on the cards for Germany?
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 38,087Chief of Staff
    I expect our German department to opine on that subject in due course.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I read the other day that Greece was looking war reparations
    Of Germany ? Could be a piece of newspaper fun but who
    Knows
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,458MI6 Agent
    Italys woes are well documented and have been for years. Economists used to use the phrase "the dreaded piigs economies" (Portugal, Italy, Ireland,Greece, Spain) as it happens Greeces economy is growing perhaps a matter of the only way is up. Im not sure Germany would have the appetite for new bail outs? Having recently avoided recession by the smallest of margins and looking at their economy shrinking. One of the biggest issues facing many EU economies is the basic nature of the countries. Italy is a very diverse country culturally, politically and economically, the industrial North controls most wealth, the south is poor and politically they are as different as chalk and cheese, similar tale in Spain, where unemployment s at 24% but nearer 30% for under 30 year olds jobs are hard to get, and the rural communities have little interest in the EU or politics. Many in Spain see the EU as a cash cow that helps pay for new infrastructure, over generous benefits etc according to my Spanish friend people know its unsustainable but just carry on regardless. Will brexit removing one of the few net payers make things just a little harder for the majority of the EU member states? Possibly but not just yet while the UK still pays in but that's simply postponing the enivitable, unless of course the EU demands higher contributions from the remaining net payers. They must be praying the Rhine doesn't run dry again this summer.
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,427MI6 Agent
    I think Germany and the EU will have little choise if the italian economy crashes. The country is simply too big to fail. The EU could, at least economically speaking, have let Greece go down the drain in 2008 without ruining the European economy. The EU can't let Italy crash and burn, and Italian politicians know it.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    I expect our German department to opine on that subject in due course.

    Actually not.

    First of all, let‘s not mix up the Euro currency with the EU.

    I am deeply worried about where Italy is going financially and it will heavily affect the Euro currency, not so much the EU imo.

    For decades, Italy gathered not enough taxes for the rich, voted for populists and clowns of any kinds and cheated themselfs into the Euro, just like Greece did.

    They are now trying to get financing from Putin, no idea if that will work out.
    Italy is a too large country and economy to get bailed out btw like it has been done in Greece.

    If the UK arrange any kind of Brexit deal with the EU, they will continue to be net payers - there is no way around it.

    As for the war reparation claims from Greece: this has been going for decades, I doubt that Germany will hand them over 365 billion Euros in cash so they can get rid of their national debt.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 38,087Chief of Staff
    If that isn't you giving your opinion, what is it???? :))
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Sorry, mixed up to opine with to oppose.

    Exhausted and jetlagged, time for bed :s
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,866MI6 Agent
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,866MI6 Agent
    edited May 2019
    I'm sure that ex-Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe speaks for many of us when she says that the UK has the worst prime minister, leader of the opposition and Parliament in recent history:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGkpKeH_BeQ&feature=share

    Incidentally, Widdecombe is standing to be an MEP for Nigel Farage's new Brexit Party.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,427MI6 Agent
    I think Therresa May was put in an extremely difficult position, but she made a couple of huge blunders (Calling for a new election, not asking the opposition what deal had the best chance of being accepted by the House of Commons). It's easier to agree on Corbyn. In spite of the very difficult position the PM is in and how split the Tories are, Labour hasn't been able to take advantage of the situation at all. That's just weak.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    I‘d add Farage to the ‚worst‘ list.

    How he ran away just immediately after the vote - particularly backpeddling with the NHS capromise totally exposed what that clown really is.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,484MI6 Agent
    "Don't tell 'em, Pike!"

    download.jpg
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • JTMJTM Posts: 3,027MI6 Agent
    It seems like the AJB politics threads have really quietened down over the past week or so—has the UK gone ahead and sorted out all their recent political issues?? ;)
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,484MI6 Agent
    If you live in the Surrey area, it's my letter in today's Comet about today's Local Elections. The paper is cutting it fine, I sent it off two weeks ago.

    It explains how you have to vote tactically to get anywhere, and to oust a disliked current incumbent, otherwise the vote gets split.
    There are about 10 or 15 candidates, and you've never heard of most of 'em!
    'For a list of candidates, visit surreycc.gov.uk, locate your borough (such as www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk), click on 'Council', 'Elections & Voting', then 'Borough Council Elections'. Scroll way, way down for a PDF of 'Statements of Persons Nominated'.

    Locate your ward (named on your polling card) for the contenders - around 15 are listed, most of whom you've never heard of, and many not even campaigning.

    To vote tactically, you need to find out which of your preferred candidates came second last time and vote for them.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,427MI6 Agent
    edited May 2019
    Labour and the Tories just lost about 800 seats at the local elections, while the Liberal Democrats gained about 300. The Green Party also did very well, but UKIP are down. The main reason for these changes is likely to be Brexit. I wonder what'll happen at the next parliament election?

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-news-live-local-elections-theresa-may-delay-gavin-williamson-mordaunt-a8895866.html
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    The success for the Lib Dems could be a reason for a victory lap on my side, because they are Pro EU and I could say, that this is an indicator that the EU support has grown in the UK. But that would be wrong.

    Truth is, that Farage‘s party was not participating in the communal elections and he‘ll receive lots of protest votes in the EU parliament elections and future parliament elections. I don‘t see any significant changes in the EU opinions in the UK.

    Having said that, I never went so low to cast a protest vote myself. I was always voting for the candidates and parties that I trust most.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 38,087Chief of Staff
    Just for accuracy, these elections weren't UK wide.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Lib Dems are a protest vote ;) Roll on the EU elections for some
    real fireworks !!! :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Ens007Ens007 EnglandPosts: 863MI6 Agent
    Higgins wrote:
    The success for the Lib Dems could be a reason for a victory lap on my side, because they are Pro EU and I could say, that this is an indicator that the EU support has grown in the UK. But that would be wrong.

    Truth is, that Farage‘s party was not participating in the communal elections and he‘ll receive lots of protest votes in the EU parliament elections and future parliament elections. I don‘t see any significant changes in the EU opinions in the UK.

    Having said that, I never went so low to cast a protest vote myself. I was always voting for the candidates and parties that I trust most.

    Personally speaking I would say that the results from last night are 'anything but' a vote to remain in the EU - it has effectively killed remain as a viable option for either of the main 2 parties (just my opinion & not trying to pick an argument).

    In other news, there are reports of over 800 spoilt voting cards in just one of the wards and there was only a 13% turnout in Hull! :o
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    [Edited by Barbel]
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,427MI6 Agent
    I predict a landslide for The Monster Raving Loony Party at the next EU election :D
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    They couldn't do any worse :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
This discussion has been closed.