Change UK - The Independent Group@ForChange_Now 28m28 minutes ago Our website's updated to http://VoteForChange.UK & Twitter to @ForChange_Now! Sadly our former handle has been hijacked by someone making mischief. Our message is clear - politics is broken, we need to change it. We are arguing for a #PeoplesVote & for #Remain in these elections. this is the page they lost control of please log in to view this image
The Brexit Party should win by a mile. It’s just a disgrace that the elections are being held at all, at a cost of more than £120m. You know how I voted in 2016, but if I had voted to other way I would be livid now (I’m pretty livid anyway). This should have been finished and we should be out.
I think turnout will be low, and like the last euro elections that favours the anti EU faction, which will coalesce around the Brexit Party, because the leave voters who would normally vote for the Tories and Labour will flood to Farage, their natural parties have badly let them down and many will feel that a protest vote is more than valid, and these elections aren’t important anyway. Remain voters have a **** choice - not the Tories, Labour won’t have a clear position, split between Lib Dem’s and Change UK, both a bit feeble. Just a guess, I’ve had enough of it. I forgot to vote in the local elections, I will choose not to vote in these ones, it’s a complete disgrace they are happening at all. I’m beyond caring. I’m lurching into Stainsey’s smash the state territory.
For once, can't argue with the SNP on this...going to be a ton of jakeys pissed off though Scotland's bottle return scheme deposit to be set at 20p 4 hours ago please log in to view this image Bottles and cans, as well as plastic drinking bottles will be included in the scheme for Scotland The Scottish government has outlined its plans for a deposit return scheme for some plastic drinking containers, cans and glass. Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham told MSPs at Holyrood that a "return to retail" model would be adopted. She added that following an extensive consultation the deposit would be set at 20p. The move is part of the government's climate action plan. The minister said all retail outlets, regardless of size, would need to comply with the scheme. She explained that there had been a lot of discussion about whether to include glass in the plans. Ms Cunningham said it had been concluded that glass should be affected, despite some criticism from the glass industry. However, she added that HDPE-made plastic bottles, which are typically used to carry milk, would not be included. Containers made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - which typically carry fizzy drinks and water - will be subject to the deposit return. How does it work? Effectively, 20p - the deposit - will be added to the price of a single-use drinks container bought from a shop. The consumer will get their deposit back when they return the empty bottle or can to the retailer. The scheme will operate throughout Scotland, including rural areas. All types of drinks and all containers above 50ml and up to three litres in size are included. Businesses selling drinks which are opened and consumed on site - such as pubs and restaurants - will not have to charge the deposit to the public. How do I get my deposit back? There will be two ways you can return your empty container - over the counter, or by using a reverse vending machine (RVM). An RVM is a machine that scans containers when they are returned and then refunds your deposit. The government says there will be a range of ways you can get your 20p back, for example cash at a till, a token or discount voucher or digitally. The returned containers are stored in the machine and are then collected for recycling. As well as retailers and hospitality businesses, schools and other community hubs will be able to act as return locations. Will anyone be in charge of this scheme? The government says an independent, privately-run, not-for-profit company will be in charge. It adds that the system will be paid for through three sources of funding - unredeemed deposits, revenue from the sale of materials and a producer fee. When will this plan be implemented? The Scottish government said it was planning to introduce legislation later in the year. Once the Scottish Parliament has passed the necessary regulations, there will be an implementation period of at least 12 months before the scheme is up and running. Is this also happening in the rest of the UK? please log in to view this image Scotland will likely be the first nation in the UK to introduce a bottle deposit return scheme. That is possible because recycling is a devolved issue. Currently, a consultation is taking place in England with a deposit of about 15p being mooted. Wales has been involved with the research being done for England. However, the Welsh government said it was already the third best place in the world for recycling, so it questioned whether a bottle deposit scheme would improve on that. In Northern Ireland, a deposit return scheme is also under consideration.
According to the Telegraph, Amber Rudd has had her official credit card suspended five times. Claire Perry used hers to buy an Amazon Prime subscription. Greg Clark, Rory Stewart and David Mundell had theirs suspended as did Chris Grayling. Corbyn’s was suspended twice.
Apparently 377 MPs have had their card suspended at least once. Using a company credit card for personal use, and failing to reconcile receipts with statements in time for claims to be submitted and bills paid is a disciplinary issue in my company and in theory a sacking for multiple offences. Not only because of the potential fraud (very rare), and added expense issues (the company ends up paying unnecessary interest on late claims), but also I suspect because people who can’t do something so simple may not be that good at their jobs. As it’s a sign of possible financial trouble we also provide confidential financial advice. All an MP has to do is hand his/her valid receipts to their PA who will doubtless input into an online system. If they can’t do that on time they deserve sacking, followed by public humiliation through a few hours in the stocks, or on a ducking school.
Here is this week’s #bbcqt panel. With us in Northampton we have @AmberRuddHR, @jreynoldsMP, @Anna_Soubry, @Nigel_Farage and @John_Mills_JML. Join us at 10.35pm tomorrow on @BBCOne and @bbc5live please log in to view this image could be fun
Having spent several years in Belfast, and being put under the most intense pressure every time you stepped out the door, I agree with Johnny Mercer... Tory MP Mercer withdraws support for PM over veterans 1 hour ago please log in to view this image Tory MP Johnny Mercer says he has withdrawn his support for Theresa May and her government over the historical prosecution of servicemen and women. In a letter to the PM, the Plymouth MP said he would only vote with the Conservatives on Brexit legislation. He called on Mrs May to end the "abhorrent process" of "elderly veterans being dragged back to Northern Ireland" to face possible prosecution. He has previously called for legislation to stop this happening. Communities Secretary - and former Northern Ireland Secretary - James Brokenshire said he was "very saddened" by Mr Mercer's announcement and acknowledged that "the system isn't working well in Northern Ireland". He said the government had been consulting on changing the existing system. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Mercer said the government had "singularly failed to act for four years and I am simply not prepared to put up with it any more". "There is nothing loyal about watching the car go over the cliff and not doing anything about it," he added. In his letter the former Army officer and member of the Commons Defence Committee, said: "As you know, the historical prosecution of our servicemen and women is a matter that is personally offensive to me. "Many are my friends; and I am from their tribe." BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the Conservative Party can "ill afford to lose MPs from [the] rising generation who have been able to win marginal seats" right now. Mr Mercer told the PM he cannot "support your legislative programme any further until your government make some clear and concrete steps to end this abhorrent process". "The macabre spectacle of elderly veterans being dragged back to Northern Ireland to face those who seek to re-fight that conflict through other means, without any protection from a government who sent them almost fifty years ago, is too much," he wrote. MP unsure Tories still share his values "It appears that my values and ethos may be slowly, but very firmly, separating from a party I joined in 2015. "I will not be voting for any of the government's legislative actions outside of Brexit until legislation is brought forward to protect veterans from being repeatedly prosecuted for historical allegations and will be updating my constituents of this decision accordingly." A total of six former soldiers are now facing prosecution over Troubles-era killings. The cases relate to Daniel Hegarty; Bloody Sunday; John Pat Cunningham; Joe McCann (involving two ex-soldiers); and Aidan McAnespie. Not all the charges are murder. The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland said that of 26 so-called legacy cases it has taken decisions on since 2011, 13 related to republicans, eight to loyalists, and five are connected to the Army
What was Danny Baker thinking posting a picture of a young monkey outside a building with the moniker - Royal Baby Leaves Hospital - Typical Millwall fan. Bet he throws bananas from the terraces
Danny Baker sacked by BBC after tweeting picture of a chimp in royal baby joke. I shall miss him, but what a crass thing to do. What was he thinking? Now he is going to have to respond to lots of justifiable racism accusations.
Here’s his comment: After an initial backlash on social media, Baker said: "Sorry my gag pic of the little fella in the posh outfit has whipped some up. Never occurred to me because, well, mind not diseased. "Soon as those good enough to point out it's possible connotations got in touch, down it came. And that's it." Don’t think he’s helping himself.
If we're being charitable, we might say he was having a pop at the Royal Family, rather than Meghan's heritage. Can't help him more than that, the idiot
