Political Discussions And Ranting Thread

[The Old Crem 3,794]

1 minute ago, Paul Bearer said:

Keir Starmer so wants to replace Streeting as soon as possible.  

I suspect if a suitable scandal emerged Starmer would be very happy to see him depart.

[Toast 16,343]

2 hours ago, The Old Crem said:

Wes Streeting so wants to replace Starmer as soon as possible. 

 

We all so want to replace you as soon as possible. 

[maryportfuncity 10,794]

On 08/01/2025 at 23:38, Windsor said:

The grooming scandal is old news. It’s only back in the new because it suits the agenda of racists, fascists and those who want to suck off Musk. 
 

It’s a shame so many idiots are swallowing it…if you’ll pardon the pun.

 

Aye, swallowing too much of the stuff will only make you very ill!

 

[The Old Crem 3,794]

Suspect a lot of very angry people blaming Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson today. 

[The Old Crem 3,794]

And I’ve just seen the Telegraph’s headline. They don’t normally oppose anti immigration policies but they do this one of course. 

[The Old Crem 3,794]

My local council is putting council Tax up 10%. Labour who are in control is already struggling here. Suspect the local pro Gaza party will win at least part control in 2026. Maybe with an unholy alliance with the Greens despite having a lot of differences on environmental and social policies. 

[The Old Crem 3,794]

Lol the Daily Star is teasing the return of the Lettuce - this time for Rachel Reeves. 

[YoungWillz 21,722]

So, the COVID Inquiry continues. At this rate, it will outlive me!

 

I thought I'd budge over to GB News while Sky cover the Inquiry, only to find them absolutely fuming that cannabis isn't being prescribed on the NHS.

 

It's an upside down world, I tell you!

[The Old Crem 3,794]

Tulip Siddiq has resigned as a minister. Emma Reynolds has replaced her. 

[maryportfuncity 10,794]

Always useful to see yourself the way others do. Last week's episode of the estimable Skeptoid podcast (which cites peer reviewed sources most of the time and takes a skeptical look at popular culture, claims of the paranormal etc.) dealt with economic nationalism. Clearly inspired to do so by the incoming Trump administration, not that they discussed that. Instead they lined up three high profile and recent examples of this kind of popular protectionism in action and outlined where it had gone to shit in practice. Here, in its totality, is example two: 

 

2. Brexit

Perhaps the most famous case of populist-driven economic nationalism in recent years is Brexit, the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union in 2020. For 27 years, the UK's membership in the EU provided seamless access to the entire European market. Exports were tariff-free, trade was streamlined. There were no customs duties or controls between nations, trucks could just deliver the goods from one nation to another. If you wanted to do business, there was no easier and more profitable way. Democratic values and the rule of law are upheld within the EU, and the standard of living is higher from shared consumer protection, healthcare, and environmental standards. Economically, membership in the EU is a no-brainer.

But membership also provides for unrestricted access to live, work, and study in any member nation; and the UK is a pretty attractive place to live. By the time of the referendum in 2016, over half a million non-citizens were immigrating to the UK each year. Some British populists saw them as lawless, unwilling to adopt British culture, and a drain on national resources. Many wanted stronger borders. Also many Britons felt the UK contributed too much to the EU without other nations ponying up their fair share. Many saw EU officials as elitists who were out of touch with ordinary British people. Overall, the voters who passed Brexit saw it as an issue of reclaiming control over their own laws, finances, and borders — leaving the EU was the ultimate act of nationalism.

The UK did indeed regain control over their ability to negotiate trade independently and to establish their own immigration rules. They did so. The result was that sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and healthcare suddenly faced severe labor shortages. Britons wishing to travel internationally found it difficult and complicated. Small businesses faced enormous new paperwork and customs delays. Many had to give up doing business internationally, whether they were trying to import or export. Processes that used to be seamless became unmanageable. Even here at Skeptoid, for several years we were forced to stop shipping USB drives and store merchandise to our members in the UK. To comply, we would have had to set up a VAT account with the UK government and file quarterly returns which were far too burdensome and expensive for our small team.

The result was predictable. Soon after the referendum, polls have indicated that a growing majority of Britons feel leaving was the wrong choice; and today, a plurality think they should rejoin, with just under 50% favoring rejoining and around 35% favoring staying out. If they do rejoin, Brexit will have proven to be history's most wasteful experiment in populism-driven nationalism. Economists estimate that by 2035, the UK will have 3 million fewer jobs, 32% lower investment, 5% lower exports, 16% lower imports, and be £311 billion worse off than if they had remained in the EU.

[The Old Crem 3,794]

Turning into a mess for Starmer and for practically no gain. 

[En Passant 3,809]

16 minutes ago, The Old Crem said:

Turning into a mess for Starmer and for practically no gain. 

 

 

Have an ice cream in January or something. Go wild. Quit looking for the gloomy side of absolutely everything.

[Fox B 68]

4 hours ago, En Passant said:

 

 

Have an ice cream in January or something. Go wild. Quit looking for the gloomy side of absolutely everything.

You guys are stronger than me for putting up with him for so long. I had him, Mango, and Sir Creep on ignore within two weeks of registering.

[Brad252 874]

A line from an FT opinion piece has been doing the rounds regarding Tom Tugendhat, and IMO it's a belter:

 

"Tugendhat, a good man, but also proof of how far a pukka accent and background can take an empty vessel on the inert sea of British public life..."

[En Passant 3,809]

20 hours ago, En Passant said:

But unless I've got the wrong end of the stick here a vpn on the provider end won't solve the issue for UK providers if the market in the USA is removed entirely by the banning of TikTok there. To fix it you'd be relying on every one of your current 'viewers' aquiring and using a vpn not using one yourself that'd make no difference - and you'd still lose all the new subs/views that expands your business on an international platform. They'd only lose the US part of the income, but of course that's the issue it's a big market and probably the biggest if you're English speaking.

 

 Replying to my own post but from a thread where it was fast swerving off topic.

 

TikTok's terrible algorithm collecting users data is why it's being banned. Oh, and because it's not American owned, it's perfectly ok for American companies to do this worldwide....

 

 

[Brad252 874]

2 hours ago, En Passant said:

 

 Replying to my own post but from a thread where it was fast swerving off topic.

 

TikTok's terrible algorithm collecting users data is why it's being banned. Oh, and because it's not American owned, it's perfectly ok for American companies to do this worldwide....

 

 

Free market but not when the free market favours others; free speech but not when the free speech is critical of them. Those who shout "freedom" more often than not are hypocrites. 

[The Old Crem 3,794]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14300995/Defence-chiefs-fears-Marine-training-schedule-slashed-eight-weeks.html
Embarrassing this is happening when the Goverment is spending money on so many other useless things. 

[Paul Bearer 6,247]

8 hours ago, The Old Crem said:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14300995/Defence-chiefs-fears-Marine-training-schedule-slashed-eight-weeks.html
Embarrassing this is happening when the Goverment is spending money on so many other useless things. 

When what things happen?  Maybe an explanation would be in order.  Also, the daily fail?  FFS I wouldn’t believe anything in that rag, even if it reported the sky is blue and the grass is green. 

[Fox B 68]

I knew Elon Musk was a fascist, but him sieg heiling on day one was not even on my 2025 bingo card.