When I was last in England, November 22, I was horrified as I travelled around Bucks and Northants as to what was happening. What I knew as lush rolling meadows and ancient woodlands had been turned into something that looked more like a moonscape. All to do with the building of HS2 of course, which as an infrastructure project has pros and cons, but the toll on the countryside is pretty horrific. Now the government's own watchdog says the project is unachievable and needs a total rethink. The people of the west of England, Wales and Scotland are not due to benefit from it in any way, yet money that is required in those regions that could help to pay for local transport is being syphoned off to pay for this out of control project. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66352286
There are no pro's to hs2, only cons. Indeed it is one big con. A train that starts in the wrong place and goes nowhere. The rail network needs improving, but this isn't the way to do it. I drive through the devastation every day.
The people of the west of England have every right to be annoyed, but I’m not too sure you’re right about money from Wales and Scotland being syphoned off to pay for HS2. Yes, it’s taxpayers from across the UK who are funding it, but the money is being spent to the benefit of England only. The Barnett Formula was set up to address that - any such project in which spending favours England only automatically sees the devolved nations entitled to what are known as Barnett Consequentials - a payment equal to a percentage share of the amount being spent - that percentage being equal to each country’s percentage of the population. Essentially, both Wales and Scotland get more of their own money back than they normally would - which probably explains why the Tories are keen on scrapping the Barnett Formula.
It sounds like the old days when Fred came back from his 40 hours in the factory, handed over his unopened pay packet to the wife, and was then given his beer money to spend down the pub.
And now it appears that the Tories have shafted Wales. By claiming that HS2 is of benefit to both England and Wales, Wales misses out on £6bn of Barnett Consequentials. They really are the pits. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/its-just-theft-people-furious-27430543
All got your bikes dusted off? You're going to need them... https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/struggling-over-50s-could-deliver-30617018?
"Asylum seekers on Bibby Stockholm to be evacuated due to Legionella bacteria in the water on board". The water was tested before anyone was put on board, but the results have only just come in. So the governments' statement made earlier in the week, that all tests have proved that the vessel is perfectly safe, appears to be a bit of a porky.
Another heavy-ish defeat for the Tories - admittedly only in a Council by-election, but rather pleasingly in a Ward not too far from Rees-Mogg's constituency. I do like this reader comment: "The Tories have drifted off to the far right, trying to appeal to elderly GBNews viewers. They've lost thousands of educated and working age voters who don't want rivers full of poo, aren't racist, don't call people morons, and who want to be able to access an NHS dentist. Elections are won from the centre ground not from the far right or far left." https://www.somersetcountygazette.c...-somerset-council-byelection/?ref=twtrec&s=03
"This is unacceptable." Mainly because it means 1700 asylum seekers will be housed in her constituency - Karma I'd say. Anything that makes NIMBY Patel fume is fine by me.
Technically both, but kennedy is in the DP. Though as far as carlson is concerned there's more than enough evidence to demonstrate that he is also a bonafide white supremacist on top of everything else he is.
Despite the number of cases of the new coronavirus variant being quite low here, the government is gearing up to give everyone over 65, and other vulnerable groups, booster jabs this autumn. The plans seem to be well advanced, and it will of course be free. It is cheaper in the long run to protect people without charge than have them taking up space in hospitals. If you are housebound, the government will even pay for transport to take you somewhere to get your injections. This seems to me a common sense approach, rather than people missing out because they cannot afford to pay. Not sure about having this vaccine at the same time as a flu one, as it is suggested you could get one in each arm.
The cost of getting rid of MPs is to double - suspiciously in time for an election that could see the current government decimated. Whoever said that the 'I' in IPSA stood for Independent? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/08/24/mps-golden-goodbyes-to-double-to-more-than-17000/
Is this from a member of the opposition? No, just Dorries handing in her notice to the PM. “I shall today inform the chancellor of my intention to take the Chiltern Hundreds, enabling the writ to be moved on 4 September for the byelection you are so desperately seeking to take place.” "You hold the office of prime minister unelected, without a single vote, not even from your own MPs. “You have no mandate from the people, and the government is adrift. You have squandered the goodwill of the nation, for what?” “Your actions have left some 200 or more of my MP colleagues to face an electoral tsunami and the loss of their livelihoods, because in your impatience to become prime minister you put your personal ambition above the stability of the country and our economy." “Bewildered, we look in vain for the grand political vision for the people of this great country to hold on to, that would make all this disruption and subsequent inertia worthwhile, and we find absolutely nothing.”
