2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Alternatively, you can read as much as you choose to, about comments from others that all the doom and gloom is completely unfounded.

Lots of figures are quoted, from all sorts of locations to justify one view or the other

Bull

Shit

1 hour ago, kent_white said:

I think we're in a good position to get some concessions from the Europeans at the moment, seen as Germany are considering asking us to provide them with a nuclear umbrella and they will badly need our support to counter Russia..... 

They will be getting that from the French 

9 hours ago, Sweep said:

We all know it was a bad thing, and I'm sure if the referendum was held again today, we wouldn't be leaving.......however, we have left, and we're not going back. We had a GE less than 12 months ago, and none of the leading parties suggested doing so in their manifesto (sadly)  -  we just need to suck it up now.

I do have no doubt though, that in 30 or 40 years, the decision to leave the EU will be seen as the most ridiculous thing this country has ever done (and that includes letting Liz Truss be leader for a few weeks)

We are diametrically opposed on this. I believe the general opinion will be thank fuck we left. Store this and get back to me in 30-40 years.

1 hour ago, kent_white said:

That's exactly the kind of thing we should have expected when we left the EU though isn't it? 

No. They hide behind our Trident and you ask yourself which country is being the mover and shaker in getting these recalcitrant (for Spider) Europeans to pull their fucking weight, particularly regarding the Ukraine situation.

They are bitter and nasty cunts who want everything their own way. Little Reginald Molehusband type characters sat in grey, drab offices in Brussels.

Fuck them. Better off out.

32 minutes ago, Casino said:

Bull

Shit

Bitter

Remoaner

1 minute ago, bolty58 said:

No. They hide behind our Trident and you ask yourself which country is being the mover and shaker in getting these recalcitrant (for Spider) Europeans to pull their fucking weight, particularly regarding the Ukraine situation.

They are bitter and nasty cunts who want everything their own way. Little Reginald Molehusband type characters sat in grey, drab offices in Brussels.

Fuck them. Better off out.

France have their own nuclear weapons but you know this right?

9 hours ago, Winchester White said:

France have their own nuclear weapons but you know this right?

Not that it really matters, but France actually have more nuclear warheads than we do. 

Same amount of submarines though, I think

Only a small minority would claim Brexit has been a success would nt they ? 
 

Even Nigel acknowledges it has not gone well, might blame different reasons but it ain’t gone well. 

26 minutes ago, Ani said:

Only a small minority would claim Brexit has been a success would nt they ? 
 

Even Nigel acknowledges it has not gone well, might blame different reasons but it ain’t gone well. 

100%

The Conservative Party fucked it up a bit, I think it's safe to say. No wonder when they had those Uber cunts, David Davis and Boris Johnson at the helm negotiating for so long. 

The decision was made, those in charge let us all down

Seems as good as anywhere to put this here, just went on on the ‘for you’ bit of Twitter, normally ignore it …but , on 4 different threads I have the following wording, exactly the same punctuation and wording. Looks like this is the next/latest thing the Bots will be pushing ! 

I’d love to see a CANZUKUS trade & military alliance formed between ourselves, America, Australia, New Zealand & Canada.

4 minutes ago, Ani said:

 

I’d love to see a CANZUKUS trade & military alliance formed between ourselves, America, Australia, New Zealand & Canada.

It wouldn't be a bad thing, sadly, I'm not sure the US would be remotely interested though

26 minutes ago, Sweep said:

It wouldn't be a bad thing, sadly, I'm not sure the US would be remotely interested though

TRUMP wouldn’t be

America might.

2 hours ago, Sweep said:

Not that it really matters, but France actually have more nuclear warheads than we do. 

Same amount of submarines though, I think

When did we last have a successful launch?

2 hours ago, Sweep said:

Not that it really matters, but France actually have more nuclear warheads than we do. 

Same amount of submarines though, I think

They have     290 

we have      225

56 minutes ago, Spider said:

TRUMP wouldn’t be

America might.

Given the way Trumpy is behaving and alliance between the other 3 is more likely than anything involving murica.

Let's get the British Commonwealth up and running again.

Boats are arriving again. Sorry. Seems more have come so far this year than any time since records began. Government considering processing abroad. I’m sure someone else thought of that before.

https://news.sky.com/story/government-considering-sending-failed-asylum-seekers-to-overseas-migrant-hubs-13333661

14 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

Boats are arriving again. Sorry. Seems more have come so far this year than any time since records began. Government considering processing abroad. I’m sure someone else thought of that before.

https://news.sky.com/story/government-considering-sending-failed-asylum-seekers-to-overseas-migrant-hubs-13333661

Don’t worry they can be sent to the Balkans! 
 

*apologies I’ve just realised that’s what the article was about.
 

Smash the gangs  

Edited March 22, 20251 yr by royal white

3 hours ago, royal white said:

Don’t worry they can be sent to the Balkans! 
 

*apologies I’ve just realised that’s what the article was about.
 

Smash the gangs  

It fascinates me stuff like this. And sends me down a rabbit hole 😁

I've just had a long chat with AI about it. This is where we got to in the end. 

I'm not trying to score any points here one way or the other btw. If you scroll back to when we first started talking about the Rwanda scheme - I've always been of the opinion that the idea isn't a problem - it was more to do with the implementation for me. 

Anyway - I was chatting with AI trying to get it to agree to putting a rank together of which countries it would send failed UK asylum seekers back to, given a load of caveats about safety/international law etc. It woundn't answer me until I convinced it that it was a purely hypothetical question and nobody was going to get harmed (how cool is that by the way)? 

This is what it got to......... Eventually! 

 

"Considering the broader humanitarian, legal, and ethical concerns as well, here's a more comprehensive hypothetical ranking:

1. **North Macedonia** - EU candidate status means improving human rights standards and oversight. Has some refugee processing experience and is developing asylum infrastructure with European support. Relatively stable with fewer documented human rights concerns than others on the list. Geographic proximity to EU allows for oversight by international organizations.

2. **Serbia** - Also on EU accession path, providing incentives for human rights compliance. Has experience with diverse refugee populations. Better-developed civil society with human rights monitoring. Better integration possibilities in multicultural urban centers. However, has faced criticism for pushbacks at borders.

3. **Bosnia and Herzegovina** - Constitutional protections for diverse ethnic groups could extend to asylum seekers. International oversight from various organizations present. However, political gridlock affects service delivery, and migrant accommodation conditions have been criticized by human rights groups.

4. **Rwanda** - Despite stability and low crime, significant concerns exist about limitations on political freedoms, press restrictions, and allegations of mistreatment of detainees. The UK-Rwanda arrangement has faced multiple legal challenges questioning Rwanda's ability to provide fair asylum processing. Geographic and cultural distance from countries of origin for most UK asylum seekers creates integration challenges.

5. **Albania** - Faces challenges with rule of law, judicial independence, and corruption that could affect asylum seekers' rights. Limited experience with refugee integration from non-European backgrounds. Economic challenges and organized crime concerns could impact vulnerable populations.

This ranking considers not just physical safety but also legal protections, human rights compliance, integration prospects, and adherence to international refugee conventions—all crucial when considering the welfare of vulnerable asylum seekers."

Wasn't sure where to put this, but as it's related to a council, then here seems as good as anywhere. 

Absolutely disgraceful attitude and one of a total lack of common sense, amongst other things.

https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/25025071.raynes-park-elderly-man-fined-recycling-efforts/?ref=yahoo

 

Edited March 23, 20251 yr by Tonge moor green jacket

Rachel Reeves is going to trim the fat of the civil service and cut 15% of running costs.

That should cheer up the Musk/DOGE disciples 😊

40 minutes ago, Spider said:

Rachel Reeves is going to trim the fat of the civil service and cut 15% of running costs.

That should cheer up the Musk/DOGE disciples 😊

About time. Unemployment will go up of course and it does nothing for growth. She’s already created her own £20 billion black hole in just 6 months. Some going that. Anyway, we will all benefit. Won’t we?

https://news.sky.com/story/average-uk-family-could-be-1-400-a-year-poorer-by-2030-13334161

3 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

About time. Unemployment will go up of course and it does nothing for growth. She’s already created her own £20 billion black hole in just 6 months. Some going that. Anyway, we will all benefit. Won’t we?

https://news.sky.com/story/average-uk-family-could-be-1-400-a-year-poorer-by-2030-13334161

Just for balance, you were odds on to be the first to respond 😊

Short term pain 

Let’s judge in 5/14 years

13 minutes ago, Spider said:

Just for balance, you were odds on to be the first to respond 😊

Short term pain 

Let’s judge in 5/14 years

She/they wont get that long imo. The economy will do for her. Happy to add balance as usual.👍

10 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

She/they wont get that long imo. The economy will do for her. Happy to add balance as usual.👍

Then so be it

its a while since they’ve been in power and there’s a lot to tidy up. The opposition will be monitoring I’m sure.

Sir Keir will know what to do. He’s got time.

 

Local politics maybe but regular readers will know that I’ve been a grudging admirer of the GM Mayor and his integrated transport policy. As a regular user of public transport in GM, it’s petty good. Next year, the trains will be added to the tap-and-go system.
 

“The system brings Greater Manchester into line with cities such as London, New York and Sydney in offering a multi-modal, integrated and capped payment system.” Burnham.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c757yne6q19o