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abomvubusoRishi Sunak has already assumed office as the UK Prime Minister. But that doesn't mean the financial and economic problems are solved. A hole of tens of billions of pounds is gaping in Britain's financial plan, to start with.
Britain's finance minister, Jeremy Hunt, actually wanted to present the new government's financial plans as early as last week. But the stock markets have calmed down a bit since then, giving the cabinet the opportunity to publish those plans a little later - possibly on November 17th. Then the current forecasts for economic development will be available, and this will strengthen the foundations of all the financial planning, at least that's what the Ministry of Finance is hoping.
( Read more... )
Britain's finance minister, Jeremy Hunt, actually wanted to present the new government's financial plans as early as last week. But the stock markets have calmed down a bit since then, giving the cabinet the opportunity to publish those plans a little later - possibly on November 17th. Then the current forecasts for economic development will be available, and this will strengthen the foundations of all the financial planning, at least that's what the Ministry of Finance is hoping.
( Read more... )
The end of an era.
8/9/22 22:08nairiporterQueen Elizabeth II died peacefully this afternoon, the Royal Family announced on its social media accounts.
Her son Charles, who is now King, will return to London on Friday.
A life time of service. 80% approval rate. Something politicians can only dream of. The death of one little old lady has made the world pause. Quite amazing.
May she rest in peace.
If I had to use 3 adjectives to describe her, I'd maybe come up with these:
1) Stoic
2) Tactful
3) Reponsible
Thoughts?
Her son Charles, who is now King, will return to London on Friday.
A life time of service. 80% approval rate. Something politicians can only dream of. The death of one little old lady has made the world pause. Quite amazing.
May she rest in peace.
If I had to use 3 adjectives to describe her, I'd maybe come up with these:
1) Stoic
2) Tactful
3) Reponsible
Thoughts?
In Liz we Truss?
6/9/22 21:46kiaaHas the UK really gone that far down the toilet? Yes, I believe so. Y'all may as well tear the whole thing down and start over. The only person worse than BoJo is this stupid warmonger. May I say good luck with the coming crash... doubt it will be long before people take to the streets en masse demanding her resignation.
I see no evidence whatsoever that Ms Truss is capable of doing anything positive for Britain, or even that she cares about Britain. Her ideas for growth are based upon reducing taxes, which flies in the face of the evidence from the top richest countries, she has said nothing about education or health and she is, we must remember, co-author of the famous book "Britannia Unhinged."
Sadly Britain appears to be on a rapid path towards increased poverty, poor health, poor education, and the prize for having the biggest gap between rich and poor of any European nation. These are sad times.
The Tory high command say there is amazing talent within the party and it needs to be tapped into. But if that is true, why is the UK in the state it is?
I'd say because (competent) talent needs to accept some self evident truths about the last 40 years of conservative rule. A lot of things that were Tory dogma have turned out to be an unmitigated disaster - but there is no hope unless and until people start to accept that.
It's rather like the first step of getting over an alcohol addiction is admitting that you have a problem with alcohol consumption.
The major problem with the current crop isn't that they have policies that many disagree whether they will work, but they make assertions that are flat out wrong. I don't know which would be more scary, that they know they're lying through their teeth or that they genuinely don't know that what they're saying contradicts the known facts.
I don't envy the UK right now.
I see no evidence whatsoever that Ms Truss is capable of doing anything positive for Britain, or even that she cares about Britain. Her ideas for growth are based upon reducing taxes, which flies in the face of the evidence from the top richest countries, she has said nothing about education or health and she is, we must remember, co-author of the famous book "Britannia Unhinged."
Sadly Britain appears to be on a rapid path towards increased poverty, poor health, poor education, and the prize for having the biggest gap between rich and poor of any European nation. These are sad times.
The Tory high command say there is amazing talent within the party and it needs to be tapped into. But if that is true, why is the UK in the state it is?
I'd say because (competent) talent needs to accept some self evident truths about the last 40 years of conservative rule. A lot of things that were Tory dogma have turned out to be an unmitigated disaster - but there is no hope unless and until people start to accept that.
It's rather like the first step of getting over an alcohol addiction is admitting that you have a problem with alcohol consumption.
The major problem with the current crop isn't that they have policies that many disagree whether they will work, but they make assertions that are flat out wrong. I don't know which would be more scary, that they know they're lying through their teeth or that they genuinely don't know that what they're saying contradicts the known facts.
I don't envy the UK right now.
BoJo in trouble
5/7/22 21:28mahnmutCabinet ministers at No 10 after Boris Johnson told delegation is waiting to tell him to go
Right about now would be a REALLY good time for a "flare-up of a long-standing chronic condition which, unfortunately, makes it impractical for Mr. Johnson to devote the time, attention, and effort that is really required in order to properly lead Her Majesty's Government" which would mean that he "most regretfully, but thankfully for the wonderful opportunity that he was granted to lead such a marvelous country, tenders his resignation as both Prime Minister and Member of Parliament, effective immediately".
Right about now would be a REALLY good time for a "flare-up of a long-standing chronic condition which, unfortunately, makes it impractical for Mr. Johnson to devote the time, attention, and effort that is really required in order to properly lead Her Majesty's Government" which would mean that he "most regretfully, but thankfully for the wonderful opportunity that he was granted to lead such a marvelous country, tenders his resignation as both Prime Minister and Member of Parliament, effective immediately".
BoJo exposed
7/6/22 21:33luzribeiro
The first news is that the "fat pig", as former Prime Minister David Cameron used to call his friend Boris Johnson, has once again slipped out of the hands of his opponents. The other news is that the British prime minister has survived a no-confidence vote invoked by his own conservative party members, with a worse result than his predecessor, Theresa May, three years ago. I suspect there's hardly anything else that angers Johnson more than this fact.
The historical examples are not very encouraging anyway. Theresa May resigned six months after that vote, when it was found that only 60% of her party members supported her. And her political collapse came in part because Boris Johnson, the guy in question, was tirelessly plotting political intrigues behind her back, so that Ms Mae had no choice but to wave the white flag and quit.
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Freedom Day!
19/7/21 22:03fridi
Virus surge fears, UK leader's quarantine, mar 'Freedom Day'
England’s nightclubs have reopened as the country lifted most remaining restrictions after more than a year of lockdowns, mask mandates and other pandemic-related curbs on freedom
Problem solved, then? Eh? BoJo wished it away after all, so it must be gone now. He said he trusts the public to behave responsibly and do the right thing. I'm sure this is going to end well.
The Delta variant says 'hello' and 'hold my beer, will ya?'
Funnily enough, UK Freedom Day was off to a bad start as BoJo himself had to isolate after getting in contact with one of his ministers who has Covid now. At first, the PM tried to sneak away and bend the rules so he wouldn't have to isolate, but fearing the backlash he did quarantine eventually, just like everyone else.
All in all, the circus continues.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Tory
11/7/21 22:25asthfghl
I'm writing this just as the Euro 2020 (yeah, you read that right) final is about to begin in London. England is excited because they believe they'll become European football champions for the first time - notice, just as they've left the European Union. The irony! Of course they could win if the English synchronized diving team led by Raheem Stirling manages to get under the referee's skin once more, and earn a couple more penalties. But let's not forget whom they're playing against. Italy. You know, Italy. Don't you ever presume to teach Italians about diving, m'kay?
More importantly for England though (not sure if you're happy that this is the more important England-related news or not), the Brits are obviously fed up with all those masks and restrictions and stuff. They've obviously started ranting and complaining more than usual about all this, so the ruling Tories, led by yet another genius who looks as if he's carrying a strange dead animal on his head (yeah, another one), you know, the same Tories with the "traditional values", but a Made-in-England version, have decided masks are indeed no longer necessary. Because people are ranting about it. Yeah. Smart, isn't it?
See, they've explained they're now relying on people's common sense and personal ethics to keep protecting other people and themselves, even if it's no longer compulsory. I'm sure this will go well. That new Delta variant of the virus be damned. It must've missed the news that people in England are oh so responsible.
I'll have to give it to Mr Genius, though. He's being a consistent Tory, the most consistent one there is. He waits to learn what people want to hear, so he gives it to them right away, the moment they require it. No matter of the consequences. Just like Brexit. He's the very embodiment of Toryness.
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This is getting interesting
23/6/21 20:50kiaaFirst, Russia says it chased a British destroyer out of Crimea waters with warning shots and dropping bombs in its path.
You know, Crimea. Russia says this is their territorial waters (aquatorial?), Britain says it's Ukrainian waters so they were in their right... And then comes this.
U.K. Denies Russia Claim Warning Shots Fired at Warship
So which is it then? Yeah, I'm not asking whose waters these are, because, as far as I'm concerned, it's humankind's waters, etc, blabla koombaya. Call me a hippie. No, I'm asking how it's possible that two sides saw two completely different things here. Rather, one saw nothing while the other imagined a big incident. Is there a way to even know these things any more!? And, to troll you a little, what's a British ship doing in the Black Sea anyways?
You know, Crimea. Russia says this is their territorial waters (aquatorial?), Britain says it's Ukrainian waters so they were in their right... And then comes this.
U.K. Denies Russia Claim Warning Shots Fired at Warship
So which is it then? Yeah, I'm not asking whose waters these are, because, as far as I'm concerned, it's humankind's waters, etc, blabla koombaya. Call me a hippie. No, I'm asking how it's possible that two sides saw two completely different things here. Rather, one saw nothing while the other imagined a big incident. Is there a way to even know these things any more!? And, to troll you a little, what's a British ship doing in the Black Sea anyways?
johnny9fingersThe US has issued the UK with a demarche over the N.I. agreement and Brexit.
The only media outlet that has run with this story is the DailyBrexit Express, astonishingly. The Express is under new ownership though.
If the US had issued a demarche to any other nation the Beeb would have been all over it. But from the BBC we have... crickets.
I've been saying for some years now just where we are heading. It's not nice to be proven right.
After a demarche normally come sanctions. I'm sure tourists will be welcome to North-Korea-on-Thames even without vaccination certificates.
The only media outlet that has run with this story is the Daily
If the US had issued a demarche to any other nation the Beeb would have been all over it. But from the BBC we have... crickets.
I've been saying for some years now just where we are heading. It's not nice to be proven right.
After a demarche normally come sanctions. I'm sure tourists will be welcome to North-Korea-on-Thames even without vaccination certificates.
johnny9fingerswww.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/10/queens-speech-photo-id-future-elections-social-care
Photographic ID cards for non-existent voter-fraud, or voter suppression? It's fairly obvious to most folk which category this falls into.
And also the Tories are mooting FPTP for all mayoral elections to enable them to have a chance of winning a few more..
Shame Scotland doesn't get a FPTP electoral system. Sturgeon would have her Independence Referendum PDQ.
It is becoming more obvious that Brexit will lead to the breakup of the Union. (I think I said that before the EU referendum - but that just means I can read and comprehend rather than I have powers of foretelling the future.) So get the popcorn out chaps and watch our Decline and Fall over the next few years.
Despite all the corruption, cronyism, incompetence, venality, and lies, the Tories didn't get their arse handed to them in the recent elections. They won a Labour-held seat and also took the very first council to have gone to Labour a hundred years ago, and which has been in Labour hands ever since. (Durham).
This is because the media has not held the government to account. Journalism is meant to set the public agenda, and the journalists (with few noble exceptions) aren't interested in journalism any more, as they seem partisan propagandists. Those areas with more educated populations like the university towns and the major conurbations, and who have news from more than one source, and which in general were Remainer, returned non-Tories. So the government prefers to keep the lesser-educated folk firmly in their pockets with the able assistance of the media, because, obviously, the lesser educated are in the majority and more easily directed. And those among the less-educated who are developing critical thinking skills can be derailed into absurdist conspiracy theories and marginalised that way.
And so now the media concentrates on Labour Party infighting. The debate is framed for the voters before they digest it; and the corruption, cronyism, incompetence and venial criminality all get overlooked, because... "ordinary voters aren't bothered by Boj's curtains."
It's not about the curtains. It's about the corruption, the slide into fascism of a British kind, and the total denial of Brexit reality.
Photographic ID cards for non-existent voter-fraud, or voter suppression? It's fairly obvious to most folk which category this falls into.
And also the Tories are mooting FPTP for all mayoral elections to enable them to have a chance of winning a few more..
Shame Scotland doesn't get a FPTP electoral system. Sturgeon would have her Independence Referendum PDQ.
It is becoming more obvious that Brexit will lead to the breakup of the Union. (I think I said that before the EU referendum - but that just means I can read and comprehend rather than I have powers of foretelling the future.) So get the popcorn out chaps and watch our Decline and Fall over the next few years.
Despite all the corruption, cronyism, incompetence, venality, and lies, the Tories didn't get their arse handed to them in the recent elections. They won a Labour-held seat and also took the very first council to have gone to Labour a hundred years ago, and which has been in Labour hands ever since. (Durham).
This is because the media has not held the government to account. Journalism is meant to set the public agenda, and the journalists (with few noble exceptions) aren't interested in journalism any more, as they seem partisan propagandists. Those areas with more educated populations like the university towns and the major conurbations, and who have news from more than one source, and which in general were Remainer, returned non-Tories. So the government prefers to keep the lesser-educated folk firmly in their pockets with the able assistance of the media, because, obviously, the lesser educated are in the majority and more easily directed. And those among the less-educated who are developing critical thinking skills can be derailed into absurdist conspiracy theories and marginalised that way.
And so now the media concentrates on Labour Party infighting. The debate is framed for the voters before they digest it; and the corruption, cronyism, incompetence and venial criminality all get overlooked, because... "ordinary voters aren't bothered by Boj's curtains."
It's not about the curtains. It's about the corruption, the slide into fascism of a British kind, and the total denial of Brexit reality.
luzribeiroI knew the royal family were archaic ghouls, but holy shit.
https://edition.cnn.com/uk/live-news/meghan-harry-oprah-interview-03-07-21-intl-hnk/index.html
I used to think they were idiots for leaving. Who would leave behind being a Royal Highness? But they absolutely made the right call. Especially after what happened to Harry's mother
The UK tabloids hounded Diana until she was in the fuckin ground. And they won't stop until Meghan is too. I mean the interview hadn't even aired in the UK yet, and they were already back at it, further proving Meghan's point:
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/03/08/media/uk-media-reaction-meghan-harry-interview-intl-hnk/index.html
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https://edition.cnn.com/uk/live-news/meghan-harry-oprah-interview-03-07-21-intl-hnk/index.html
I used to think they were idiots for leaving. Who would leave behind being a Royal Highness? But they absolutely made the right call. Especially after what happened to Harry's mother
The UK tabloids hounded Diana until she was in the fuckin ground. And they won't stop until Meghan is too. I mean the interview hadn't even aired in the UK yet, and they were already back at it, further proving Meghan's point:
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/03/08/media/uk-media-reaction-meghan-harry-interview-intl-hnk/index.html
( Read more... )
UK's innovation lag
9/3/21 18:40fridi
After the global financial crisis, the UK is practically in a state of stagnation. In a stagnant situation, economic policy becomes a zero-sum game. Meaning, one's situation could only improve at the expense of another's. And that's definitely a recipe for conflict. Generating a sustained economic growth is essential for getting out of such a predicament.
The plummeting productivity rate is not unique for the UK, though. Every other G7 country has consistently registered a lower GDP per hour growth between 2010 and 2019 compared to 1990-2000. But the UK downturn is the largest, from 2.6% annual rate to just 0.4%. The only G7 economy that's doing worse is Italy, but they also started from a lower point.
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