Off Topic Politics Thread

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54701336

Well that’s not going to win my vote!!

So Starmer should have stayed with the cyclist until the relevant authorities arrived, but in all other aspects he hasn't done anything wrong. Who was in the wrong I don't know but some cyclists do take risks at junctions, or by cycling outiside their lane, make a move without looking about. Ome example I can give was I was drivng last evening up a one-way street after dark and did not see a cyclist (without lights or reflective clothing) coming down the road until the last moment. He was going at quite a speed as well.
 
So Starmer should have stayed with the cyclist until the relevant authorities arrived, but in all other aspects he hasn't done anything wrong. Who was in the wrong I don't know but some cyclists do take risks at junctions, or by cycling outiside their lane, make a move without looking about. Ome example I can give was I was drivng last evening up a one-way street after dark and did not see a cyclist (without lights or reflective clothing) coming down the road until the last moment. He was going at quite a speed as well.


A significant minority of cyclists in London are an absolute menace. And now you have to contend with those electric scooters. I was driving behind one after dark the other night, dressed all in black, no lights (of course), no apparent awareness of the Highway Code, and he shot right through a red light at a busy junction.
 
So now who we vote for is dependent upon their driving skills?

in 60 years of driving I’ve had 4 collisions. In each case I was stationery and in two instances my car was written off. The police weren’t involved in any of these as there was no reportable injury. From what I can read Starmer did everything right. What is the problem?
 
From my perspective I would be disappointed if this thread closed. There have been many informed and lively debates. There is little doubt that the majority lean leftwards, but it is unusual for the debate to get personal. I have for many years read the Times rather than the Guardian because I want to understand reasoned argument I don't necessarily agree with, (and I can read the Grauniad for free on line). So I welcome perspectives and ideas when well reasoned that challenge mine. What I find difficult is the argument that starts... 'I am coming at this from no set belief, I am open to all views.. ' In my experience this is an opening gambit that means 'tell me what you think, then I can work out where to attack from'. Attack is too strong a word... may be.. At best it is shallow, at worst, in my experience, it is hiding behind a veil of set beliefs that are purposely obtuse. Funny old game..

The information on here during the Brexit campaign was priceless. I learnt a lot

Given the right wing views of most of the media this thread offers some balance

It’s a shame Imps went. He was a well informed adversary to our progressive views

It’s just the same as any thread, there should be no personal abuse

Thanks for supporting this thread Chilcs
 
Apologies if I'm wrong but calls for threads on politics to be closed never seem to come from The Left. If that is the case then I think that it's quite illuminating. I didn't intend to upset Billy but his claims to be a political ingenue seems out of kilter with many of his observations many of which seemed to stem from a more right wing view of society. Of course I recognise that being right wing isn't necessarily a result of being uninformed, but it usually is.
 
Apologies if I'm wrong but calls for threads on politics to be closed never seem to come from The Left. If that is the case then I think that it's quite illuminating. I didn't intend to upset Billy but his claims to be a political ingenue seems out of kilter with many of his observations many of which seemed to stem from a more right wing view of society. Of course I recognise that being right wing isn't necessarily a result of being uninformed, but it usually is.


And this is the sort of response as to why this thread needs to be closed. If this was a Conservative knocking shop, instead of a Labour one, this thread wouldnt be tolerated.

@ChilcoSaint - this is the sort of **** i have been referring to. Next time it happens, he will get to to **** off and called a ****. Numerous times.
 
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And this is the sort of response as to why this thread needs to be closed. If this was a Conservative knocking shop, instead of a Labour one, this thread wouldnt be tolerated.

@ChilcoSaint - this is the sort of **** i have been referring to. Next time it happens, he will get to to **** off and called a ****. Numerous times.
I’m not even going to rise to that Billy.
 
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Talking of road safety, and it is something I feel passionate about, who here thinks it would be a good idea to make driving with dipped headlights on motorways, and other roads perhaps, mandatory particularly between October and the end of March? You are on the motorway at 8.00 and there is a clear blue sky above. The sun is low in the sky, but the motorway itself is in shadow. You indicate your desire to overtake, see that it is safe, or so it seems because you can see the headlights of cars behind you and proceed to make the move. Suddenly, you hear a car horn blaring because there was a dark blue or black car moving so rapidly in the overtaking lane without headlights and you couldn't see the car because it was in shadow.
 
Reference cyclists, I have recently seen that experimental traffic lights are being tested, in various towns/cities, including Southampton.
The purpose of the lights is to give priority to cyclists at junctions, stopping motorists in favour of bicycles.
Not sure how this will prove effective because which direction will be given priority if cyclists arrive from all sides of the junction and how much of a delay it will make in busy streets, particularly during rush hour.
As far as I can see, from a previous report on this, one of the key reasons for introducing this is because so many cyclists won’t stop at a red light.
If that is the case then clamp down on the rule breakers.

https://expressinformer.com/new-smart-traffic-lights-will-turn-green-for-cyclists/
 
Reference cyclists, I have recently seen that experimental traffic lights are being tested, in various towns/cities, including Southampton.
The purpose of the lights is to give priority to cyclists at junctions, stopping motorists in favour of bicycles.
Not sure how this will prove effective because which direction will be given priority if cyclists arrive from all sides of the junction and how much of a delay it will make in busy streets, particularly during rush hour.
As far as I can see, from a previous report on this, one of the key reasons for introducing this is because so many cyclists won’t stop at a red light.
If that is the case then clamp down on the rule breakers.

https://expressinformer.com/new-smart-traffic-lights-will-turn-green-for-cyclists/
In the Netherlands the cyclists have right of way when going straight on over vehicles tuning right (left in the UK) and the traffic lights as you describe are used on some junctions. The big difference is that most drivers grew up riding bikes and appreciate cyclist. There are, as most counties, a number of rogue cyclists and drivers who just don't give a ****.
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In the Netherlands the cyclists have right of way when going straight on over vehicles tuning right (left in the UK) and the traffic lights as you describe are used on some junctions. The big difference is that most drivers grew up riding bikes and appreciate cyclist. There are, as most counties, a number of rogue cyclists and drivers who just don't give a ****.
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A country that believes in investment. Another is Denmark.