Pushing the rest of the argument aside, the main issue with this kind of thing is it shows that Government are deliberately mismanaging the country for clout (not really a surprise at this point, but it encapsulates the issue). They are throwing taxpayers money at schemes they already know are unworkable for some crumbs of political gain, truly desperate stuff. The sheer impracticality of what they are trying to pass tells you all you need to know. Although unfortunately it works on the more mouth breather-y of us, the 5Live phone in made me laugh, some pork pie laden Northern phone in warrior declaring that if his country was in civil war like Syria he would stay and fight, yeah right.
Don’t know how you lot are doing for tomatoes at the moment, but the weather where I am is unseasonably high, so based on comments before about high December temperatures causing tomatoes to ripen ahead of time you could be in for a tomato glut. We hit 27C today and we could hit 30C on Saturday, and daily highs of 26+C forecast until next Tuesday. Seasonal average for March, in my area, is 21C with the latter part of the month dragging the temperature up to that, so to be this hot so early in the month is a bit surprising.
snowy here, but I was thinking about growing some tomatoes under lights as I can power those with my solar panels
It's not so much about what Lineker's opinion is, but more to do with his position within the BBC to express it. What he says may upset politicians and people who disagree with him but it's the BBC who have a problem with regards to their professed impartiality. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64889868 The above might have been the view expressed by a BBC spokesperson in 2018 but last year after another of his political comments brought complaints "The BBC's Executive Complaints Unit ruled that, although the star is not required to uphold the same impartiality standards as BBC journalists, he has an "additional responsibility" because of his profile. "We expect these individuals to avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies and to take care when addressing public policy matters," the ruling said." From the link above. If Lineker had stated that he totally agreed with the Government's stance on asylum seekers there wouldn't be many defending his right to freedom of speech and using his fame associated to the BBC to say it.
You're kidding, aren't you? People would be queueing up to defend him. Who? Every single person currently saying he's a disgrace would rejoice and rush to his defence and shout about his right to say what he chose. Vin
I reckon the BBC might be lining up to sack him actually, noticing that they are ramping up their own articles about why he is a problem for them. Hardly unbiased reporting in of itself, feels like they are building their case.
The breathtaking hypocrisy of sacking Lineker, while at the same time ignoring the blatant pro-Tory bias of presenters like Fiona Bruce and Laura Kuenssberg, would be almost unbelievable, but that’s where we are these days I suppose.
Yeah, but you have to understand that if Lineker were on the other side of this issue, and people criticized him in the slightest, that would be cancel culture. Unlike calls for him to be sacked, which are not cancel culture because [smokebomb]
The government of Georgia is backsliding toward authoritarianism, introducing a new law (modeled after one in Russia) that would allow them to crack down on media outlets and NGOs. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets to protest: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-6489221 Notably, the protests are rather heavily focused on the fact that passage of the law will hinder deepening of relations with the EU...something the government of Georgia actually supports (it's at least nominally left-leaning). Yet protesters are still waving the EU flag and directing a lot of their ire toward Russia -- "Putin is a dickhead" seems to be a popular chant -- because they're aware that any move that alienates Georgia from the EU is likely to push it back toward Russia's orbit. This is why I find the narrative that the west is responsible for the Ukraine war so lacking in respect for the actual desires of the people involved. The former SSRs really, really don't want to be under Russia's thumb. To the extent that, when their largely pro-EU government starts undermining freedom of speech and association, their first fear is "this will eventually lead us back to Russian hegemony", rather than the more direct threat to their domestic democratic system.
Still got snow on the upper reaches of the mountains here in Mallorca. Temperature around 20 today and sunny!
I have no doubt whatsoever that if these demonstrations in Georgia end up with the current government falling then within five years we'll have the usual suspect in here telling us it was all done by the CIA (and that Russia would then have a right to invade). Vin
Oh what a hero, he put himself out for 20 days. Meanwhile there are literally thousands of people housed in hotels right now, at our expense. There are hundreds of thousands working here cash in hand, paying zero tax. Not just immigrants, but British people too. Sponging off the state with not a care in the world. Meanwhile childcare costs are more than a large mortgage. Housing is impossible to afford for young people. Those of us trying to work and earn a living are clobbered with insane taxes meaning we have less money to look after our families. So yeah, I agree with Lineker. I ****ing hate war, I would love to help as many people as possible. But NOT at the expense of our country. Which is what has been happening for too long.
Os, the people who have been robbing you and me and every other honest working person in this country blind for years, aren’t in refugee centres, they’re in Westminster, and the City of London. The bankers crashed the world’s economy in 2008, you and I have been paying for it ever since, just as we are having to pay for Brexit and Covid. But the bankers are back to filling their boots with bonuses, we have a government of the rich, for the rich, by the rich, and we are being encouraged to blame immigrants and lefties, to take the attention away from the real criminals. It’s a con mate. And Lineker’s right about the government; when Germany was on it’s arse in the 1920s the Nazis picked an easy target in the Jews, Trade Unions and commies. Just as our government is picking an easy target with refugees, lefties and Trade Unions. Ffs don’t fall for it mate.
I agree with this 100%. The real issues lie in the financial system. But unfortunately that will never be fixed. It’s in those in powers interests to keep it the same. So we have to take some small wins where we can. Contrary to the belief on here I am not some crazy right wing loony. I am very liberal and fiscally libertarian. I am pro immigration if it’s the right immigration. However a lot of people here seem to have their head in the sand about how bad this problem is
The UK black (informal) is estimated to be 10.3% compared with our neighbours we have France 13.1%, Ireland 12.3%, Germany 11.1%, Netherlands 10%, Luxemburg 9.9%, Austria 8.7%, Switzerland 7.5% plus USA! USA! at 7.3%. Numbers listed in the linked article make interesting reading. https://www.worldeconomics.com/Nati...my (informal sector,billion at GDP PPP levels.
Expecting references to "social security or benefit scroungers" in the scandal rags/twatter and similar social media disgraces as the run up to election gathers pace.. https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Benefit_scrounger It's worth noting - "The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country, the Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country, the Times is read by people who actually do run the country, the Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country, the Financial Times is read by people who own the country, the Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country and the Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is." —Jim Hacker, Yes, Prime Minister
You’d have an easier time convincing people that you aren’t a right wing loony if you didn’t consistently (and pretty much exclusively) post talking points from the right wing loonies. The hotel piece for example. The only reason they are there is because the government is actively slowing down the processing and they can’t stay in france post brexit. And if I understand correctly the people in the hotels are not the ones getting off the boats. Two largely different issues And the term “hotel” makes it sound really plush - an this is likely intentional. They are not. Think back to when people were forced to quarantine in hotels during covid - an issue I know is close to your heart. They weren’t exactly thrilled. We’re not putting them up in the grand harbour all inclusive Seriously - listen to some more left leaning news sources to balance your perspective. And I don’t mean all this new crop of people who claim they were once left wing until covid and/or things got too woke. I mean left on a more recognised international scale. Hint: If you believe (not saying you do) that Joe Rogan is left/progressive and Tim Pool is centrist (I know Tim makes that claim or has done) then your spectrum is misaligned. I’d suggest some that are not fully on crazy left if I thought you’d listen (“A Different Bias” for a U.K. pragmatic labour perspective is a start. Northern bloke. Ex teacher. Understands that full on left wing policies would never win an election etc) I don’t actually think you are a right wing loon. But to the average person reading your posts in isolation and looking at the sources you use and how you treat some compared to others it is not hard to see how they would come to that conclusion It is a little odd that you seem to acknowledge the true source of the problem. And it is perfectly reasonable to be defeatist in taking the view it will never change. But to then pile on the people they want you to demonise? When you seem to acknowledge that is what is going on? It’s one thing for the average person on the street who gets most of their news from Facebook and the front pages of the right wing press to do that. But to know and still follow along happily with this “stop the boats” stuff …?!
