UK Politics Thread

[Jimbuna]

The UK government is poised to introduce legislation that would allow ministers in London to override parts of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, a senior government source has said.

Boris Johnson is due to visit Belfast later to encourage the restoration of Northern Ireland's government.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is refusing to enter the assembly because of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

It was designed to ensure free trade continued across the Irish land border.

The recent assembly election on 5 May cemented a majority for those who accept the protocol, including the new largest party, Sinn Féin. But it has been opposed by unionist politicians.

The DUP has argued the protocol has eroded the foundations devolution was built on and undermined Northern Ireland's position in the UK.

Despite signing up to the deal himself, Mr Johnson agrees changes are needed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61456677

[Moonlight]

When Bozo has finished faffing around in Northern Ireland he can start working on all the promises he and his cronies made regarding Brexit, this load of bollocks he's delivered is not what the public voted for. :O:

[Skybird]

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61466142


Attention! All prices - ready to go UUUPPPPPPPP...!


Well, I ordered a watch from London last autumn, and got it for almost 55% of what it costed over here.

[Jimbuna]

A trade war should it occur will be damaging to both sides so hopefully a solution will be found but I somehow doubt it.

[Jimbuna]

The UK government pledges a law to change parts of the Brexit deal agreed with the EU on Northern Ireland.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss says the bill will ease trade and insists it will not break international law.

But the government is facing criticism, with many MPs questioning the legality of the plan.

In Brussels, EU negotiators say they have significant concerns and warn they could retaliate.

But Boris Johnson defends his government, saying: "We don't want to nix it, we want to fix it"

Special trade arrangements - known as the Northern Ireland Protocol - were needed after the UK left the EU

But they have resulted in delays and price rises as goods arriving in Northern Ireland require paperwork.

Political institutions in Northern Ireland are at a standstill because of the issue but the majority of elected NI assembly members accept the protocol.

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson tells Prime Minister's Questions he will "look at all the measures" needed to help people struggling with rising bills.

Sir Keir Starmer presses him on Labour's call for a one-off tax on oil and gas profits, arguing it would raise "billions" to help with energy bills.

But the PM replies "this government is not in principle in favour of higher taxation"

Meanwhile, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford calls for an emergency budget.

The Commons debate comes as the UK's rate of inflation reaches 9% as prices rise at the highest rate for 40 years.

Soaring energy bills are the main driver, after the UK's energy price cap increased in April. Covid-19 and the Ukraine war have also hit global supply chains.

Inflation is expected to continue to rise, and Citizens Advice has urged anyone finding it difficult to pay bills to seek help.

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcymfIuElU4

[Skybird]

Headline of the month. BBC titles: "Boris Johnson lives in a slow motion desaster movie". :D Reading that I had to laugh out loud.

[Jimbuna]

Senior civil servant Sue Gray met Boris Johnson to discuss publishing photos as part of her inquiry into Downing Street parties, the BBC has been told.

A senior government source said the PM had told Ms Gray the decision was a matter for her, and the findings of her investigation were not discussed.

The source said it was now expected Ms Gray, who requested the meeting, would include pictures in her final report.

Labour suggested the "secret meeting" could damage confidence in the process.

Ms Gray has been looking into numerous gatherings reported to have taken place in Downing Street in 2020 and 2021, when Covid restrictions were in place.

Her full report is set to be published next week after the Metropolitan Police announced it had concluded its investigation, which saw a total of 126 fines issued to 83 people.

Around 30 individuals, including the prime minister, have already been informed they are likely to be named by Ms Gray.

They have until Sunday evening to lodge any objections.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61531971

Really looking forward to reading this report when it is published.

[Jimbuna]

Photographs obtained by ITV News cast fresh doubt on the Prime Minister’s claims that he was unaware of rule-breaking in Downing Street during the pandemic.

The four images show the Prime Minister raising a glass at a leaving party on 13th November 2020, with bottles of alcohol and party food on the table in front of him.

They were taken at a gathering in honour of the Downing Street’s then Director of Communications Lee Cain, with eight people pictured standing closely together, as well as the photographer.

ITV News understands there were also other participants out of shot at the party, which one source has dubbed "Fizzgate", despite the rules at the time only allowing two people from different households to mix indoors.

In several of the photographs, Boris Johnson appears to be making a speech and raising a toast, with half a glass of fizz in his hands.

On a chair sits his red box, and on the table next to him are two bottles of champagne or cava, four bottles of wine and half a bottle of gin.
https://www.itv.com/news/2022-05-23/exclusive-pm-pictured-drinking-at-downing-street-party-during-lockdown

This individual is not fit to run this country.

[mapuc]

^ Is there any qualified Politician in your country Jim that is fit to run your country ?

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Highly doubtful at the present time but that is only my opinion of course.

If I had my way there would be a coalition government.

[Catfish]

^^ good you did not ask about Germany, Marcus :03:

[Jimbuna]

Earlier, when I mentioned coalition government Kai, I was not suggesting anything like the one your country currently have :)

:03:

[Catfish]

It would not be so bad if SPD and Scholz were not involved. Just of all the Greens are all for supporting, but Scholz always dodges. Even people in Germany seem to realize that Scholz is obviously against Ukraine winning the war. And then this "defence minister" lmao.
Ok no theme for this thread but.. :nope:

[Jimbuna]

Aye, I sometimes think the world would be a much better place without politicians but the problem is, who or what do you replace them with :hmmm:

[mapuc]

Saw some picture in our news at nine

It's not my job as an outsider to point finger or tell your politician what they should do, 'cause I would have said

If your Prime Minister had some ounce of dignity he would resign.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Dignity? Boris Johnson doesn't know the meaning of the word.

[Jimbuna]

Insiders who attended events at Downing Street during lockdown have told the BBC how staff crowded together and sat on each other's laps and how party debris was left out overnight.

For the first time, insiders who were at some of the events have told BBC Panorama in detail what they saw.

They describe arriving for work the morning after a get-together to find bottles lying around parts of the building, bins overflowing with rubbish and empties left on the table.

They also tell of events with dozens of staff crowded together, and parties going so late that, on occasion, some ended up staying in Downing Street all night.

And they say staff mocked others who tried to stop what was going on.

The prime minister's official spokesman said that Boris Johnson took revelations about what happened in Downing Street during lockdown "very seriously".

He said that the interim report by Sue Gray "raised some of these challenges" and that "wholesale changes" in how No 10 operated were made as a result, adding there were "further changes to come".

The accounts come a day before the senior civil servant Ms Gray is expected to deliver her report on lockdown parties in No 10.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61566410

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson has again apologised after the long-awaited report by Sue Gray into rule-breaking parties in and around Downing Street during the pandemic.

Sue Gray found that many of the events "should not have been allowed to happen" and that staff who raised concerns were not treated with respect.

The 37-page document includes details of wine spilled down walls, vomiting, and parties lasting until 4am

Senior leadership at Downing St must bear responsibility for this culture, Gray says.

Johnson has argued that he believed the gatherings he attended had been work events.

Labour's Keir Starmer says the Gray report shows how No 10 treated the sacrifices of the public with contempt.

WhatsApp messages reveal Martin Reynolds, a former top aide to the PM, was warned of "comms risks" around parties.

He also suggested in a different message that officials had "got away with" a large event in the No 10 garden on 20 May.

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60xd7KnWKPM

[Skybird]

Der Spiegel etches:

Maybe it's time to come to Boris Johnson's defense. Now that everyone is picking on him again, just because there were lavish parties at his place of work and residence during the strictest British lockdown. Because in the British government headquarters, people were drinking, puking and fighting, while in the next room, ministers were explaining to the 65 million other Britons why, unfortunately, they can no longer visit their terminally ill grandmother.

Unpalatable, all that. And, yes, also unlawful. But what can Johnson do about it?

He discussed it only on Wednesday again in the mother of all parliaments: that he was present with the one or other illegal sundowner, perhaps also emptied a glass of bubbly. But only briefly! And when all subordinates could still look halfway straight ahead.

Then he always left quickly. To govern. Or sleep. And didn't notice the rolling suitcases full of alcohol and the karaoke party a few meters away from his desk or bedside table.

How could he? He knows he doesn't know anything.

That's why he didn't lie when he affirmed over the past six months that Downing Street always "fully complied with all policies" or that there was "no party" or that there may have been a party after all, but that he himself certainly "didn't break any rules" or that he may have violated his own pandemic law, but still - if anything - only "because no one told me that was something that was against the rules."

That's the way it's always been with Johnson. He means well with us. And himself. But the others don't mean well enough with him. It started when he was a reporter, after all. If someone had told him back then that you can invent quotes as a novelist, but not as a journalist - what might he and the world have been spared?

[Jimbuna]

Two more Tory MPs have revealed they have submitted letters of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Former health minister Steve Brine and Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris join the six backbenchers who have publicly called on him to quit as party leader.

The news comes in the wake of senior civil servant Sue Gray's inquiry into lockdown parties in Downing Street.

The BBC is aware that about 20 Tory MPs have submitted letters - short of the 54 needed to force a vote on the PM.

However, only Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers, knows the exact number, which could be more.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61608738

[mapuc]

Since he, as you said to me earlier, doesn't know dignity I foresee a scandal in your Parliament-He will refuse to step down despite Labour and some of his own demands it.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

He would have to be dragged kicking and screaming out of his parliamentary office.

[Cyborg322]

He would have to be dragged kicking and screaming out of his parliamentary office.

Image of him after being dragged out


.................................................. ....

Party Political Broadcast. It wasn't me

https://iili.io/XXyIpt.jpg (https://freeimage.host/)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_x6QmuJdms


She caught me red handed

[Jimbuna]

"My hunch is it's in the high 40s."

So says a Conservative MP to me, as we indulge in a spot of guesswork about how many Tory MPs might have formally requested a vote of confidence in the prime minister.

What we are witnessing right now are the aftershocks, the tremors provoked by the publication of the report into pandemic parties on Boris Johnson's watch.

For Conservative MPs to try to topple a leader, 15% of them have to write to the chair of the party's 1922 Committee, which represents backbench Tory MPs.

Fifteen percent of the current number is 54 MPs. And the chairman of the committee in question is Sir Graham Brady.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61627796

[mapuc]

I wanted to know so I made a search

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1922_Committee

Is it correct what it says in this wiki info about the 1922 committee ?

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Yes, that is an accurate article Markus.

Meanwhile...

Former Attorney General Jeremy Wright has become the latest Conservative MP to call for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign.

Mr Wright said the controversy over lockdown parties in Downing Street had done "lasting damage" to the party.

The scale of Covid rule-breaking within government was laid bare in a report by senior official Sue Gray last week.

Nine Tory MPs have publicly urged the PM to quit since it was published, bringing the total number to 25.

Most of the 25 have submitted letters of no confidence in Mr Johnson's leadership. Others may have done so without without making this known publicly.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61636151

[mapuc]

Do you have a Vice Prime minister ? Or do you have an extra election when Boris resign ?(I'm convince he sees no other way than leave number 10)

Markus

[Jimbuna]

I believe Dominic Rabb is the deputy and he would take over, the current government majority being somewhere in the region of eighty seats.

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elH9MO5kppc

[mapuc]

I would say that it's better for him to resign/step-down now, then waiting for the unavoidable- He must know by now in which direction the wind is blowing.

Markus

[Gorpet]

We don't care, If you throw out Boris! Americans want to know that the United Kingdom is contributing it's fair share. Not of old war materials But Money.We don't hear about Billion dollars of cash going to the Ukraine government.From your government like ours.See times are tough. And i know somebody will respond. And i'm going to give you the Greta Thunberg response. Blah,Blah and double Blah.

[Jimbuna]

Dominic Raab has dismissed claims Boris Johnson is about to face a leadership contest, despite growing resignation calls from Tory MPs.

Speculation is mounting that Mr Johnson could soon face a no-confidence vote over widespread Covid rule-breaking in Downing Street.

But deputy PM Mr Raab said this was "Westminster talking to itself".

It comes as the PM's standards adviser called on him to say how his actions complied with ministerial rules.

Lord Geidt said Mr Johnson had failed to publicly set out why his fine for breaking Covid rules did not also break the rules governing ministers' behaviour, which say they must comply with the law.

Breaking the ministerial code is normally seen as a resigning matter.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61657209

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICbbzvgkQn0

[Jimbuna]

One of Boris Johnson's strongest cabinet allies has hit out out Tory MPs trying to oust him, accusing them of doing "the opposition's work".

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries claimed growing calls for the PM to resign were the result of a "co-ordinated campaign" by backbenchers.

Criticism of Mr Johnson among Tory MPs has increased since Sue Gray's Partygate report last week.

But Ms Dorries said the "overwhelming" majority still backed him.

Twelve Conservative MPs have called on Mr Johnson to quit since the release of Ms Gray's report laid bare the scale of Covid rule-breaking in No 10.

It takes the number now openly calling on him to resign to 28. Most of have written letters of no confidence in him, although the total number formally calling for a contest may be higher.

Mr Johnson has dismissed calls for him to quit, adding it would not be "responsible right now given everything that's going on".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61657209

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQglA61xNDc

[Skybird]

This is the time of transition. Unspoken, undeclared, yet everybody knows it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61645993

Duty and discipline and no scandals that she has caused herself. Respect, Madam!

[Jimbuna]

This is the time of transition. Unspoken, undeclared, yet everybody knows it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61645993

Duty and discipline and no scandals that she has caused herself. Respect, Madam!

GOD SAVE the QUEEN

[Jimbuna]

Then on the other side of the coin...

Boris Johnson would win a confidence vote on his leadership, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said, as the PM continues to face calls to resign.

Some Tory MPs have told the BBC such a ballot could be triggered this week, but Mr Shapps disagreed.

He also shrugged off crowds booing the PM, saying politicians didn't expect to be "popular all the time".

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a sign voters were "fed up" with the government.

He argued the jeers that greeted the prime minister when he attended a Platinum Jubilee celebration were a response to the government's "inaction" over the cost of living crisis.

However, speaking to the BBC's Sunday Morning programme, Mr Shapps said prime ministers had to make difficult decisions and not everyone would approve.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61696059

[Moonlight]

No Confidence vote for Boris tonight.

This is it, has Bozo still got his lying mojo or has he lost it?, the Tory Rebels need 180 votes to get rid of him and I would think they'll be lucky to muster up 120 to 130 of them. Party Politics will be at play today and those Tory Whips will be running around Parliament like headless chickens. It's a secret vote so the whips will have no clue as to how they've voted, Bozo will not know if half his cabinet have stabbed him in the back or not and we all know what happened to Thatcher in the 90's, could it happen again?, me thinks not, but then again I'm not an evil bastard like those Tory MP's are. :haha:

This "Vote of No Confidence" has took months to achieve and was always doomed to fail from the outset, the only chance the Tory rebels had is if these letters of no confidence had been put in the same week that all this Partygate nonsense broke out. The Tories don't have a natural successor to take over the helm from Bozo, if they had anyone with some charm and charisma they might have had a chance of outing him but as it is they are leaderless and clueless. :o

After the by-elections there will be a purge from Bozo and some Government Ministerial appeasement appointments forthcoming, “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer” is the old mantra. A few ministerial posts here and there for some of the rebels will do for him what a thousand words can't, anyone with any common sense knows "Money will beget their Loyalty" and their principles can **** off. :yep:

Starmer will be chomping at the bit for the next General Election to be called, "October next year at the earliest I would imagine" and that will be his downfall, no one likes backing a loser and Starmer and his Shadow Cabinet have "Loser" written on their foreheads in Red Ink. I sense another Purge coming from the Labour Party soon and it can't come quick enough. :O:

[Jimbuna]

Pretty much agree with all of the above :yep:

[Jimbuna]

Ballot win Boris Johnson doesn't mean political escape

It's been coming.

The festival of guesswork, the orgy of speculation.

Not even the Platinum Jubilee could dial it down.

The simple truth is the Partygate row has incensed lots of people and a growing number of Conservative MPs felt it was behaviour that was impossible to defend.

As Tory MPs decide whether to remove Boris Johnson from office, this is about more than just wine and leaving dos.

It's what it says about the prime minister's character that unnerves so many Tory MPs.

Some are blunt: either they remove Boris Johnson or the electorate removes him and them from government at the next election.

But plenty - including the rebels - expect Boris Johnson to win the confidence vote tonight.

But an arithmetic win is not the same as a political one.

Theresa May won a confidence vote easily, but was gone within six months.

What we will get tonight is an indisputable number: the number of Tory MPs who want the prime minister out.

It's a number that will hang around Boris Johnson's neck for the rest of his time in office.

He will argue other numbers matter far more: the nearly 14 million people who voted Conservative at the last election.

The whopping majority he won.

But make no mistake: confidence votes are almost always bad news for political leaders.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61707571

[mapuc]

How long time does he have left in Number 10 if the British Parliament vote against him-A majority vote against him ?

Shall he leave as he is or does he have some days to pack his thing ?

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Resigns with almost immediate effect as far as I remember.

The problem being, he will probably win the vote tonight.

[Mariner1]

How long time does he have left in Number 10 if the British Parliament vote against him-A majority vote against him ?

Shall he leave as he is or does he have some days to pack his thing ?

Markus

"Let me be absolutely clear...":hmmm: it's not the British parliament which is voting, only those MPs who are in the Parliamentary Conservative Party(PCP - or is that 'Angel dust'?)

On the basis that those who are in power tend to hang on to it as long as they can, BJ's movements in and out of office will, for some of us, be agonisingly slow.

If he's voted 'out' as PCP Leader tonight, he has some time to put his affairs in order, report to Her Majesty that he can no longer in all conscience be her Prime Minister, and hang about in the shadows to influence or scupper the process for selecting a worthy successor.

I think he remains an MP, on the back benches, and can stay (like Teresa May) or go (like David Cameron).

But might one think that all the scenarios have been logged in the No 10 playbook - the outcome will benefit the Establishment, not the people?

Vomituri te salutamus

[mapuc]

"Let me be absolutely clear...":hmmm: it's not the British parliament which is voting, only those MPs who are in the Parliamentary Conservative Party(PCP - or is that 'Angel dust'?)

On the basis that those who are in power tend to hang on to it as long as they can, BJ's movements in and out of office will, for some of us, be agonisingly slow.

If he's voted 'out' as PCP Leader tonight, he has some time to put his affairs in order, report to Her Majesty that he can no longer in all conscience be her Prime Minister, and hang about in the shadows to influence or scupper the process for selecting a worthy successor.

I think he remains an MP, on the back benches, and can stay (like Teresa May) or go (like David Cameron).

But might one think that all the scenarios have been logged in the No 10 playbook - the outcome will benefit the Establishment, not the people?

Vomituri te salutamus

Thank you, both.

Markus

[Moonlight]

Bozo and Cummings were a winning combination, when Carrie got involved it started to "Go To Hell In A Handbasket", so what went wrong?.

Carrie Johnson aka "Nut Nut".
The opposition don't win elections, the governing party loses them, and that's why Boris is in this mess, his wife and her interference runs through Government like diarrhoea on steroids. Parties, green policies and hiring her favourite friends as Bozo's advisers are down to her and it has been the undoing of Boris.
Boris is his own worst enemy, he has let his wife become a huge liability to him and the Tory party, no one voted for her and yet, she's been back seat driving her policies through Parliament since the get go, it has to stop now, and her "Green Agenda" needs kicking in the teeth immediately.

Dominic Cummings.
For all his faults he wouldn't have let most of this mess Boris is in happen, the problem with Boris is he's too easily manipulated by his wife and lets be honest here, when she closes her legs Boris gives in and lets her make some disastrous decisions, such as firing her main threat which was Cummings.

Cummings had ideas and he knew what the electorate wanted, his finger was pointed at the root of the problems of Government and he knew what to do about it, he definitely didn't deserve what Boris's wife engineered but in firing him Bozo was left with advisers who were bereft of any new ideas.

I don't particularly like Cummings but there's no doubt he was clever and he had a far better understanding of the electorate than those Tory MP's have, without Cummings to guide him Boris was just an untrustworthy, rudderless blunderer who has staggered from one screw up to another.

Who on earth could we be getting next after Bozo has gone?, Liz Truss?, Rishi Sunak?, Michael Gove?, god ****ing help us. :O:

[Skybird]

Possible he looses this evening, but I dont believe it. 9 out of 10 times party greed goes before state reason or the common good. Do I bet on those ten percent? Think I don't.

Point is keeping him can easily lose them the next major election. But how many can count months or even just years so far ahead?

And question is: is there an alternative man standing ready who is less corrupt as Johnson is? I dont know, I do not trust politicians for princicple reasons, its my politlical "prime directive" to never trust politicians, and where I violated it a few times in my life, it did not take long until I regretted it, without exception.

[Jimbuna]

Well, whatever way the vote goes, we shall all know at 21:00 GMT

My money is on a Boris win but the number of votes against him will ultimately decide how long he sticks around.

[mapuc]

Well, whatever way the vote goes, we shall all know at 21:00 GMT

My money is on a Boris win but the number of votes against him will ultimately decide how long he sticks around.

You were right he won this referendum.

Markus

[Skybird]

He may have "won", but rounded its just a 4:3 (211:147). Less support than Theresa May got back then.

Every man with integrity and some self-esteem, would have already quit before today's vote. But it seems this dog does not stop balking before it gets chased off the farm with stone throws and small-shot charges.

[mapuc]

147 Tories against him-This made me remember what Jim wrote ^^^
"the number of votes against him will ultimately decide how long he sticks around."

Markus

[Moonlight]

Bloody Hell!, I never expected that many MP's to want rid of Bozo, if they'd had a half decent leader Bozo would be writing his resignation speech tonight, as it is he's on a sticky wicket.

By-elections are coming up fast and if the Tories do badly in them its not only Bozo who'll be worried it'll be his whole front bench as well. Those Cabinet Ministers who are supporting Bozo at the moment will need to step back from him and start reading the room or else they'll be gone as well.

[Jimbuna]

.

integrity and some self-esteem,

Two qualities that are definitely missing from his DNA

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/q7zkJBng/111.jpg (https://postimg.cc/JyCwKLpW)
https://i.postimg.cc/V6tmt7K8/222.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Moonlight]

Hey Starmer, when you and the rest of your Woke, Knee Bending, Champagne Socialist MP's are gone from Westminster I might think about it, until then it's an Emphatic No.

[Skybird]

https://www.tagesspiegel.de/images/party_ts/28406326/1-format1007.jpgDer Tagesspiegel

[mapuc]

So Boris you won this referendum- I would however if I was you watch my 6.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson has said he is determined to "get on" with his job, in his first Commons appearance since surviving a confidence vote in his leadership.

Amid testy exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions, Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle told Mr Johnson he was loathed and should resign.

But the prime minister said his political career had "barely begun".

GOD HELP US!!

[Jimbuna]

Turn on the sound and have a ganders at this https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1534099297750466561

[mapuc]

Found this article via a Danish article

Boris Johnson has been warned he faces up to a year of Conservative civil war as angry MPs push to remove him despite his narrow victory in a no-confidence vote.

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/no10-braced-war-boris-johnson-allies-tory-rebels-1673976

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson will set out ideas to boost home ownership in England - including allowing benefits to cover mortgage payments - in a speech aimed at re-launching his leadership.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61739816

Time to re-mortgage the house me thinks :)

[Jimbuna]

The government's first flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda can go ahead on Tuesday, appeal court judges say.

It supports a previous decision by the High Court that it was in the "public interest" for the government to carry out its policies.

Under the scheme, some of those entering the UK illegally will be flown to Rwanda to apply for asylum there.

Campaigners were trying to stop the flight before a full hearing on whether the policy is lawful next month.

The charity Detention Action and the PCS union that represents some Border Force staff, who were among the groups who brought the case, said they were "disappointed" by the decision.

The court earlier heard 11 people were expected to fly to the landlocked east African country on Tuesday evening.

However, charity Care4Calais, which was among those appealing against the High Court decision, said only eight people were now due to fly.

The numbers drastically reduced after legal challenges relating to modern slavery and human rights claims, a Home Office source told the BBC.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61789982

[Jimbuna]

The UK government has published plans to get rid of parts of the post-Brexit deal it signed with the EU in 2020.

It wants to change the Northern Ireland Protocol to make it easier for some goods to flow from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

But the EU opposes the move, saying that going back on the deal breaches international law.

The UK government disputes this, arguing that the changes will mean the United Kingdom stays together.

The alterations are set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, to be debated and voted on by Parliament.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61790248

[Skybird]

The UK government has published plans to get rid of parts of the post-Brexit deal it signed with the EU in 2020.
https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/newspaper-1939-headlines-declaring-beginning-of-wwii-picture-id458543317?s=170667a

[Skybird]

Neue Zürcher Zeitung:


The gross domestic product of Northern Ireland amounted to 48.5 billion pounds in 2020, meaning that the British part of the island contributed just 2.2 percent to the economic output of the United Kingdom. Measured against the gross domestic product of the EU, Northern Ireland disappears in the per mille range. Nevertheless, both the British government in London and the EU Commission in Brussels believe that the exchange of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is significant enough to be the subject of a political dispute that could lead to a full-blown trade conflict with sanctions and counter-sanctions.

This cannot be explained with reasonable arguments. Especially since both parties truly have greater economic concerns. The UK is on the brink of recession. On top of that, annual inflation is running at 10 percent, which is rapidly melting disposable incomes. The EU is hardly doing better, with flat economic growth and inflation around 8 percent.

The Confederation of British Industry, the U.K.'s leading business association, complained Monday that large companies are becoming less willing to invest. The association's chairman warned the government against adding to uncertainty with unilateral measures to amend the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol agreed with the EU in 2019. Instead of political grandstanding, he said, the government should negotiate with the EU to improve the protocol.

But just the opposite was performed in London on Monday night. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss introduced a bill that would abolish or amend key elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol, without EU consent. The bill is an affront.

The action is all the more astonishing because the Northern Ireland Protocol was negotiated by Prime Minister Johnson himself. It served his political goal of promising the citizens an "oven-ready," hard exit from the EU and having himself confirmed in office in return. No sooner had this goal been achieved than the rowing back began.

And not without reason: the protocol is a highly contradictory agreement that in effect recognizes Northern Ireland as still part of the EU's internal market and at the same time as part of the kingdom that has left it. Its sole purpose is to avoid having to rebuild the invisible border between Northern Ireland and Ireland - a universally accepted prerequisite for peace.

With good will on both sides, this absurdity could work. Northern Ireland's low economic importance would have to make the hermaphroditic status envisaged in the protocol as part of the EU single market and the United Kingdom tolerable for both sides. Northern Ireland would be a possible loophole in the single market, but with reasonable controls, abuses could be kept in check. The single market is far from collapsing because of the Irish economy.

However, this same good will is lacking. There are still forces in the EU that see Brexit as a cause for ill will against Great Britain. And for the Conservatives in power in London and the Unionists in Belfast, the Northern Ireland Protocol serves as a pretext for domestic power games. The Unionists are blocking the formation of a government in Belfast and thus blackmailing London. The hard-pressed Johnson government, in turn, is managing the conflict with Brussels to boost the support of Conservative members of parliament. The sufferers are not only the 1.8 million Northern Irish, but the entire population of the kingdom, whose economy is being unnecessarily burdened.

Common sense is considered a quintessential British virtue. It is bitterly lacking here. The receipt for this should be given by the British MPs and Peers in Westminster. Without their approval, the law would be remembered as a mere attempt by the Johnson government to exert pressure.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (http://www.DeepL.com/Translator) (free version)

[Jimbuna]

I'm not sure how this will end but if a trade war one of the results, both sides will suffer....what an utter mess.

[Skybird]

Everybody knew from beginning that this was coming with THAT Brexit treaty.

[Skybird]

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220614-johnson-moves-to-renege-on-his-own-terrible-brexit-deal-%E2%80%93-but-will-the-tories-kill-it



The proposed legislation would try to remove the customs border problem with a new “green lane” and “red lane” for trade. Goods traded from Great Britain to stay in Northern Ireland go in the green lane and could move without customs checks. Goods sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland for export to the Irish Republic or the rest of the EU go into the “red lane” and would remain subject to customs checks in Northern Ireland.
The other key plank of the bill would remove the European Court of Justice from its role adjudicating trade disputes relating to Northern Ireland. Instead, “independent arbitration” would resolve trade disputes; it is not clear what this would entail. A further meaningful change in the proposed legislation would give Northern Ireland the same tax breaks as the rest of the UK.
‘Acting dishonourably’

The EU reacted by underlining its position that the Northern Ireland Protocol is not up for renegotiation. A constant throughout the entire Brexit process is that Brussels, backed by an unusually united 27 member states, sees watertight protection of the single market’s integrity as sacrosanct – meaning it must have a rigorously controlled border.
Brussels’ approach is overkill, Tonge suggested: “I do understand the British government’s position; the idea that Great Britain to Northern Ireland so-called ‘exports’ will go into the Irish Republic and undermine the single market is fantasy,” he said. “If only the volume of British exports were that high! Most will stay in Northern Ireland in any case.
“And even Johnson’s government, even the DUP, don’t dispute the need for checks [at Northern Irish ports] on goods that go from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to be sent south of the border,” Tonge continued.
>> How Brexit created a ‘recipe for endless tension’ among unionists upon Northern Ireland’s centenary (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210429-how-brexit-created-a-recipe-for-endless-tension-among-northern-irish-unionists)
But as Jonathan Powell would no doubt point out, it was Johnson’s government that proposed shifting the customs border to the Irish Sea back in 2019 before formalising the move as soon as possible.
“At the end of the day, they’re the ones that signed this deal; therefore the British government is acting dishonourably in proposing to renege on it,” Tonge said.
(...)
Following that uncertainty, the Protocol has worked well from an economic perspective. Closer trade links with the EU have helped the Northern Irish economy “slightly outperform the UK average”, a report by the National Institute of Social and Economic Research found (https://www.politico.eu/article/experts-brexit-protocol-is-boosting-northern-ireland-economy/) in May.

(...)
“Johnson’s majority of 80 might sound great but it only needs 40 rebels to down you; that’s only about one-ninth of the party, given that every other party bar the DUP will oppose the government on this,” Tonge said. “There is a still a Remainer wing within the Conservative Party (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/conservative-party-uk/), even if it is operating in much-reduced circumstances. Aside from that, there will be a lot of anti-Johnson MPs who have no particular ideological view on the [Protocol] who will see this as a useful opportunity to put Johnson in further difficulties.”
Given those factors, it is about “50/50” whether the legislation will get through the Commons, Tonge said.

[Jimbuna]

The EU has announced new legal action against the UK government over its plans to scrap parts of the post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

Ministers outlined a bill on Monday aimed at unilaterally changing trade, tax and governance arrangements in the 2019 deal.

The treaty was agreed by both sides but the UK says it has disrupted trade and power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

But the EU says overriding parts of the deal would break international law.

European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said there was "no legal or political justification whatsoever for unilaterally changing an international agreement".

"So let's call a spade a spade, this is illegal," Mr Sefcovic said, adding that the UK's decision "left us with no choice" but to take legal action.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson said his government was disappointed the EU had taken legal action and continued to favour a negotiated resolution.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61809459

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3l4asK2-p4

[Catfish]

Meanwhile Mrs Truss tries to get rid of fugitives in deporting them to just of all Rwanda. Congratulations, she's got all the attributes and opinions to become the next prime minister. Wearing a Thatcher scarf and being photographed in a tank gets them everytime.
Maybe would be easier to re-introduce the death penalty, faster and cheaper and less hypocritical :shifty:

[Jimbuna]

Tend to agree with you Kai but my one main objection is the fact that these refugees are travelling through so-called 'free' countries (Germany and France to name just two) to come here.

[Skybird]

It was stupid to sign a brexit treaty with this unsolved contradictory clause.


It was clear that this thing would pop up again, and that such a contradiction cannot endlessly live on.


It is about eiodocuklously low ammount of trade and money. The EU exploits this clause to the max to press and hack away at the UK's inner sovereignty. So it does with the EU courts dminac tolre that it still has in certain things regarding the Brexit agreements. The EU court is the court not of a neutrla isdnatnce, but of one of the parties - it CANNOT be a neutral instance.


Truth is the UK almost INVITED the EU into this strong position. It shouldn't have, but it did.



This knot cannot be opened and cleared up. It must be cut with with a sword and a violent mind.



The British proposal to have red and hgreen trad eolines, as they clal it, is reaosnable, in my opinion. It makes an awful lot of sense as a compromise to cut this know in the less violent manner possible. No controls on deliveries from UK to NI and vice versa, but controls on trade going to NI for the purpose of beign exported to the EU.



Find a better comprkmsie if you can. ther eis none I can imagine. The alterntaive is to sue the UK and hope it back sdown, what it likely will not, or nuke the whole brexit "treaty", which imo was (with the NI protocol included) junk anyway. Clear cut.



A needless, stupid and inevitable situation. But as I said in the Brexit process: the eU will never fogoive the UK to have said No to the block. The narcissistic ego of the EU is too offended as if they could ever get over that outraging rejection.



I am for the green-red trade lane model to NI. I am for the kicking of the EU court dominance. I am against the EU megalomania project. Nevertheless I am not lining up with the UK side this time, since they should not even have gone this wrong in the first, and never should have signed this brexit treaty in this format, but should have gone without it. One could have known this thing would cook up. And I predicted that it would. Now that the boiling water is all over the place, dear Britain: care yourself how to clean up the mess without burning your fingers. I stay out this time, moral support-wise.

[Jimbuna]

UK interest rates have risen further as the Bank of England attempts to stem the pace of soaring prices.

Rates have increased from 1% to 1.25%, the fifth consecutive rise, pushing them to the highest level in 13 years.

It comes as finances are being squeezed by the rising cost of living, driven by record fuel and energy prices.

Inflation - the rate at which prices rise - is currently at a 40-year high of 9%, and the Bank warned it could surpass 11% later this year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61801362

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson's ethics adviser says he quit after the PM forced him into an “impossible and odious” position.

Lord Geidt's job was to advise the PM on the ministerial code - a set of rules governing standards of behaviour.

In his resignation letter, he said he had come close to quitting over Covid law-breaking in Downing Street.

But he said he had been asked for advice this week on another issue he believed would amount to a deliberate breach of the code.

"This request has placed me in an impossible and odious position," wrote Lord Geidt in his letter.

He said the idea that the prime minister "might to any degree be in the business of deliberately breaching his own code is an affront" that would suspend the code "to suit a political end".

"This would make a mockery not only of respect for the code but licence the suspension of its provisions in governing the conduct of Her Majesty's ministers," Lord Geidt wrote.

"I can have no part in this."

In his response, Mr Johnson said his intention was to seek Lord Geidt's "advice on the national interest in protecting a crucial industry".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61827319

[Jimbuna]

It was wrong for the European Court of Human Rights to intervene with the plan to take asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda, Dominic Raab has said.

The deputy prime minister said the flight's grounding strengthened the case for reforming human rights laws.

The first flight of the Rwanda asylum plan, scheduled for Tuesday evening, was halted after the court intervened.

Plans for future flights have begun and the government remains committed to the plan, Priti Patel told MPs.

"We will not be deterred from doing the right thing," the home secretary said on Wednesday.

The Rwanda asylum plan, announced by the government in April, intends to take some asylum seekers who cross the Channel to the UK on a one-way ticket to Rwanda to claim asylum there instead. The government has said the scheme would discourage others from crossing the Channel.

Up to seven people had been expected to be removed to Rwanda on the Boeing 767 on Tuesday evening - which was halted minutes before take-off.

But despite clearing UK courts, the flight was halted by a late intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which led to fresh challenges in the UK courts.

Refugee organisations, politicians and the Church of England are among those who have criticised the asylum plan.

Charities and lawyers representing asylum seekers have also launched a series of legal challenges against the policy.

Justice Secretary Mr Raab said it had been "quite wrong" for the Strasburg court to use a special power to block the removal of some of the asylum seekers.

It had turned to a little-used court rule, that is technically not part of the core law of the European Convention on Human Rights - the treaty the UK is part of.

He said that the court's ability to use this injunction power would end under his planned reforms.

The UK's High Court was "very clear" and said there was "no realistic risk that in the interim period there would have been any harm to those who would have been deported", the deputy prime minister said.

The High Court ruling also accepted there was a "material public interest" in the home secretary being able to carry out her policies.

Asked if the UK could simply ignore the European court's ruling, Mr Raab said: "Not under the Human Rights Act, but we will address this squarely with the bill of rights."

The bill of rights is a plan by the government that would see changes made to the Human Rights Act. Under the plan, the UK would stay party to the European Convention on Human Rights but would change how it is interpreted by courts.

Mr Raab said the grounding of the flight "does strengthen" the case for reform.

"We're going to stay in the convention but make sure the procedural framework is reformed", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The changes would "stop and change the ability of the Strasbourg court to issue what amounts to effective injunctions when they have no power grounded in the European convention to do so", he said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61822584

[MGR1]

The Rwanda plan is an utter waste of money, it's fundamentally stupid and it won't act as a deterent in any way, shape or form.

Mike.

[Jimbuna]

I suspect you may be correct but only time will tell.

[Jimbuna]

Some asylum claimants who arrived in the UK in small boats or in the back of lorries could be electronically tagged under a new Home Office trial.

A 12-month trial could apply to adults due to be removed from the UK after arriving via what the government calls "dangerous or unnecessary" routes.

Boris Johnson said it was important to "make sure asylum seekers can't just vanish into the rest of the country".

Critics say the plan treats those fleeing persecution as criminals.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61849433

[Jimbuna]

Boris has been telling that many lies lately, it is believed he was in need of this operation to prevent him looking like Pinocchio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72GMCy-3YYA

[Jimbuna]

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has defended restoring the triple lock, which could see pensions rise by 10% in line with inflation.

It comes as the government warns workers not to expect pay rises to keep pace with increasing costs.

Economist and Labour adviser Jim O'Neill said the "constant protection of pensioners" was "ludicrous".

But Mr Sunak said pensioners were "among the most vulnerable in society" and needed to be protected.

Inflation - the rate at which the price of things like food and fuel rise - has hit a 40-year high of 9.1% and the Bank of England has predicted it will grow to 11% later this year.

[Catfish]

If you would get away from this brexit "project", what would you miss?

[Jimbuna]

Lies and yet more lies.

[Jimbuna]

Polling stations in Tiverton and Honiton, and in Wakefield have opened as voting for the two English by-elections gets under way.

The two seats, in West Yorkshire and Devon, were won by the Conservatives at the last general election, in 2019.

People in the constituencies have until 22:00 to cast a ballot.

The weather is set to be warm and sunny in Wakefield, while the forecast is for a bright start followed by sunshine and showers in Honiton and Tiverton.

[Moonlight]

I think it might end up a 1-1 draw today, Starmer and his lefty pillocks will win in Wakefield, I can tell you that the voters there were as thick as bricks in 1988 and I don't doubt that their offspring haven't made any significant improvements to that bleeding cess pit either, crikey, it made Beirut look like a middle class city. :O:

Tiverton shouldn't turn their backs on the Tories today, a quick look back into history and the striking Unions of that period that caused mayhem in the 1970's should send a shudder of fear down their backs. The Tories should win it but with a reduced majority, this is Bozo's moment, has he got the same sized balls as Thatcher or has he not?, this Union strike will need to be crushed once and for all and all the other strikes that will come after it too, if he fails he'll be looked at as just another failed Edward Heath, Tory High Command will be watching closely and sharpening their blades. :o

EDIT

Tory Disaster.

Ooooh, the Tories got a massive smack in the mouth from the electorate yesterday, one was expected and the other one was a slim possibility, it seems like Bozo can hoodwink his MPs at will but when it comes to the voters it's not so. Turbulent times ahead for the Tories me thinks and perhaps a civil war on the cards too, they should be used to them though as they've put the knife into many a Tory leader whether it was deserved or not.

[Catfish]

Really, England?

"Police officers arrested a 92-year-old grandfather for a rally in defense of Julian Assange.
The video was shot at a rally in London.
The day before, the UK decided to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States.
He is accused of disclosing classified information. The total term he faces is 175 years in prison."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIF_SINWF7w

Now they say he was detained because of not wearing a mask. And then the band played.. a.s.o.

[Moonlight]

^More nonsense from the internet. :haha:

Fact Check.
https://factcheck.afp.com/man-was-arrested-demonstration-supporting-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-january-2021

That doddering old man shouldn't even be there, ship him off to the USA and give him a DNA test, you might find that he's Joe Bidens younger brother. :O:

[Catfish]

I read the "fact check" beforehand, and it is bullsh!t.

[Skybird]

https://economy2030.resolutionfoundation.org/reports/the-big-brexit/

Downloadable PDF there.


Leaving the EU represents the largest change in the UK’s relationship with the rest of the world in nearly half a century. It is a profound change in economic governance, that will reorient production and trade away from the EU and towards the domestic market, impacting people, places and firms across the UK. Understanding the scale and nature of this change, and the extent of the adjustment so far, is crucial for to policy makers looking to reset the country’s economic strategy. That is the focus of this report, part of the Economy 2030 Inquiry.
This report provides the most detailed assessment to date of the long-run impacts of the final deal agreed with the EU. It finds that the long-run impacts will mean significant change for some sectors of our economy – for example, fishing – but that the aggregate effect will be to reduce household incomes as a result of a weaker pound, and lower investment and trade. This adjustment will be substantial, but we should not expect it to fundamentally alter the nature of our economy, including the UK’s overall services focus and export specialisation.
(...)
Executive Summary

Leaving the EU represents the largest change in the UK’s relationship with the rest of the world in nearly half a century. It is a profound change in economic governance that will reorient production away from trade with the EU and towards the domestic market, impacting people, places and firms across the UK.
The public discourse, as well as the pre-referendum economic modelling, has focussed on describing the anticipated overall economic effects of Brexit, creating the impression that it will have a discrete, and relatively rapid, one-off impact. But the reality is that the impact will be different from that anticipated in a number of important ways. Crucially, it will take time to fully materialise, and will occur in three distinct phases. First, in the immediate aftermath of the referendum, and in anticipation of permanent impacts, household incomes and business investment were affected. Second, trade itself responded following the implementation of the new Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the new barriers that this introduced. And third, structural changes to the UK economy will take place over the long-term, as capital and labour adjust to the new trading arrangements.
Overall, we find that the long-run impacts will mean significant change for some sectors of our economy –for example, fishing – but the aggregate effect will be to reduce household incomes as a result of a weaker pound, and lower investment and trade. This adjustment will be substantial, but we should not expect it to fundamentally alter the nature of our economy, including the UK’s overall services focus and export specialisation. Understanding the scale and nature of this change, and the extent of progress so far, is crucial for policy makers looking to reset the country’s economic strategy. That is the focus of this report, part of the Economy 2030 Inquiry.
I am not sure whether its possible to really calculate the effects of Corona affecting the going of the Brexit aftermath.

[Jimbuna]

Conservative co-chair Oliver Dowden has resigned following two by-election losses for the party to Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The Lib Dems overturned a huge Tory majority in Tiverton and Honiton, Devon, their third by-election victory over Boris Johnson's party in a year.

And Labour retook the seat of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which it lost at the 2019 general election.

The prime minister said he would "keep going" and address people's concerns.

In a letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Dowden said Tory supporters were "distressed and disappointed".

He wrote: "We cannot carry on with business as usual. Somebody must take responsibility and I have concluded that, in these circumstances, it would not be right for me to remain in office."

Mr Dowden also called his resignation "a deeply personal decision that I have taken alone" following a "run of very poor results for our party".

[Jimbuna]

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was looking forward to visiting Rwanda on Thursday to help people shed their "condescending attitudes" to Rwanda after criticism of the government's plans to deport asylum seekers to the country.

Johnson will meet with Prince Charles in Kigali on Friday on the sidelines of a meeting of Commonwealth leaders, after media reports the heir to the throne privately described the government's plans as "appalling".

I was hoping that he would be trying out Priti Awful Patel's Rwandan hospitality for a good while. After all there are so many wonderful opportunities that modern day Rwanda has to offer.

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6_pEx5Us5c

[Skybird]

:haha:




https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d9e878639943aa9092427293fcea03a/d9ac0546a979ac67-32/s1280x1920/d1797d3b2bbd2b808373bf9e467ba71fdbcf9cf7.jpg

[Moonlight]

I've put this in here as recent political outpourings by Charles have left himself open to attack by some political figures, if they do drag themselves down into the abyss that Charles habitates lets hope they don't come back up. :O:

Bags stuffed with money like a scene from Only Fools and Horses. Prince Charles has jeopardised his reign
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10953305/TOM-BOWER-Prince-Charles-jeopardised-reign-Del-Boy-esque-bags-stuffed-money.html

Queenie must be wondering what the hell she has done to deserve these awful offspring of hers, and awful is not the word being used around here today.
If even half of this is true Prince Charles has surrounded himself with the worst aides possible, even though they may have had the greatest of intentions regarding these charities it's not how things are done and they know that. It's not how a future king should behave and also leave himself open to accusations of appalling bad judgment either, we in the real world would call that corruption on a royal scale Charlie boy.
You Plonker.

Princess Anne has had her moments over the years but she stands head and shoulders above the rest of her siblings when it comes down to decency and decorum, "Girls Rule, Boys Drool" should be her new mantra from now on. :D

Prince William should be next in line to the throne and be crowned king, Charles' behaviour over the years is not becoming of a future king and he should either abdicate now or be forced to. He has garnered too many enemies over the years with his privileged and arrogant attitude to have a smooth reign, especially the political ones and all I see ahead is one controversey after another.

None of this will come to pass though, too many favours will be called in and everything will be swept under the carpet and given the "Establishment Whitewash" as usual, those prospective knighthoods dangled in front of their eyes are a powerful incentive to do the right thing. :haha:

[Jimbuna]

The Prince of Wales accepted a suitcase containing a million euros in cash from a former Qatari prime minister, the Sunday Times has reported.

The paper says this was one of three cash donations from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim totalling three million euros.

Clarence House said donations from the sheikh were passed immediately to one of the prince's charities and all the correct processes were followed.

There is no suggestion the payments were illegal.

According to the Sunday Times, Prince Charles received the three cash donations in person from the former prime minister between 2011 and 2015.

It is claimed that on one occasion the money was handed over in a holdall at a meeting at Clarence House. On another, the paper reported the cash was contained in carrier bags from the department store Fortnum and Mason.

In a statement, Clarence House said: "Charitable donations received from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim were passed immediately to one of the prince's charities, who carried out the appropriate governance and have assured us that all the correct processes were followed."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61941113

[Jimbuna]

Government plans to "level up" cities around the UK will cost billions more than thought, a think tank has said.

Research by the Resolution Foundation found differences in income across the UK were "significant" and "persistent".

The government's levelling up agenda is designed to close economic gaps between different parts of the UK.

But only traditionally poorer areas of London such as Hackney and Newham have seen significant improvement over the last 25 years, the new report found.

The think tank said levelling up will require investment that goes "far beyond anything currently being contemplated" by the government.

The government welcomed the report which it said showed the vital importance and urgency of "levelling up all parts of the UK".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61946037

[Jimbuna]

Nicola Sturgeon will explain later how she plans to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence.

The first minister will make a statement in the Scottish Parliament shortly after 14:00 BST.

She is expected to lay out her plan for holding a lawful vote in October next year, with or without the formal consent of UK ministers.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ahead of the statement that the UK was "stronger working together".

The UK government has held firm its view that "now is not the time" for another referendum.

In the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, the "no" side won with 55% of the vote.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61954331

[Catfish]

Nicola Sturgeon will explain later how she plans to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence. [...]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ahead of the statement that the UK was "stronger working together". [...]
:haha::haha::rotfl2:

[Jimbuna]

If the break up of the Union goes ahead it will make Brexit look like small change.

[Moonlight]

Sturgeon has been a millstone around the necks of the English taxpayers and our Westminster government for years, it's time Scotland had their independence back and went it alone, it won't be an easy win for her as those free university tuition fees and free health prescriptions will be a huge incentive for some of the Scottish citizens to give her the finger.
If she gets her way in this new independence referendum stunt of hers it might be time for this government to lay down the terms of just what Scotland will be losing.
No more Barnett formula money, create your own Scottish currency and also pay your fair share of the National debt to name but three of them, if they agree to that and the many other side effects of this unsanctioned vote of hers the UK should grant them their wish and state in a legally binding document that there's no way back into the UK when it all goes sour.

The Barnett formula
The Barnett formula is a mechanism used by the Treasury in the United Kingdom to automatically adjust the amounts of public expenditure allocated to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to reflect changes in spending levels allocated to public services in England, Scotland and Wales, as appropriate.

If only we in England could vote on this matter, the SNP would have been sent packing from England in 2014 with howls of laughter ringing in their ears. :O:

[Catfish]

Scotland here or there, it should be their decision..

I just had to laugh:
[...] Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ahead of the statement that the UK was "stronger working together". [...]

https://i.imgur.com/p4HZiFLl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CIMNWo1l.jpg

[MGR1]

If only we in England could vote on this matter, the SNP would have been sent packing from England in 2014 with howls of laughter ringing in their ears. :O:
Depends on how badly English nationalism wishes to weaken English national security in order to save a bit of money.:03:

Ultimately the union has been of debatable economic advantage to England, but it has been of major strategic and security advantage as it's allowed England to control a much greater percentage of it's surroundings without having to negotiate with it's immediate neighbours.

Hypothetically, a united Ireland and an independant Scotland would leave England surrounded by territory it has no control over on all 4 points of the compass.

Arguably it's a perennial problem with English Conservatism, it knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.:O:

Mike.

[Moonlight]

"No one said that you could bring some sanity and sound reasoning into this thread MGR1, I'm just exercising my right as a thick Brit to "extract the urine" out of that other thick Brit you've got up in Scotland.

[Onkel Neal]

Jim, can you perform a close and sequel for this thread? Thanks!

[Jimbuna]

Jim, can you perform a close and sequel for this thread? Thanks!

Sorted...locked and carried over to here: https://subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=2816148#post2816148