Now they're talking about an Olympic bid 'oop north' in the 2040s, they never learn but can always find money for more white elephants. I imagine by then we'll have been bailed out by the IMF...
Off Topic The Politics Thread
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Burnham is a classic 'shape-shifter' politician having been a Blairite, then a Miliband supporter, then Corbyn. You'd have to say his election slogan should be Groucho Marx quote "I have principals but if you don't like them I have others". He is going to find the spotlight very uncomfortable over the next few weeks, his stage managed run in the Sunday papers was exposed as he was photographed driving back shortly after and his legs certainly haven't seen much daylight. Why do they make such arses of themselves?
His moderate success in Manchester has been built on heavy borrowing, something that is unlikely to be available with what he'll inherit nationally. The GMCA has liabilities of almost £1.5 billion and there has been criticism that many new build projects have very little affordable housing, sounds similar to some of Khan's schemes in London, so there's no magic bullet in this totally unnecessary distraction from the real problems piling up. I hope he is defeated simply to serve all involved right as this is another selfish narcissist who was a bang average minister previously and will find the backbench tail wags the dog...
Hmmm....
www.theguardian.com
Israeli security minister stirs diplomatic outrage with flotilla activist abuse video
Far-right figure Itamar Ben-Gvir shares footage of himself taunting bound international detainees
www.theguardian.com
So, net migration numbers are massively down, projected to possibly reach zero in the next year or two.
Yes, but what about the small boats?!!
Well the numbers of crossings are down by 41%.
Ah, but what about all those asylum hotels?
Hotels numbers more than halved and the asylum processing backlog down by 64% from its peak in 2023.
Maybe, but the net migration fall is because so many young people are leaving broken Britain to go to Dubai and Australia
But there hasn't been an increase in the numbers leaving, and anyway the top destinations for those that have left are Poland and Romania.
I just don't like Muslims!!!
Yes, but what about the small boats?!!
Well the numbers of crossings are down by 41%.
Ah, but what about all those asylum hotels?
Hotels numbers more than halved and the asylum processing backlog down by 64% from its peak in 2023.
Maybe, but the net migration fall is because so many young people are leaving broken Britain to go to Dubai and Australia
But there hasn't been an increase in the numbers leaving, and anyway the top destinations for those that have left are Poland and Romania.
I just don't like Muslims!!!
Why don't you like Muslims strollsie
Is Net migration down to previous levels
At least small boats are only 59% of normal
Most people that have left for poland are poles going home
Brilliant. Trump is apparently close to securing a deal that will open the Straits of Hormuz! Never mind that he personally (along with Netanyahu) caused them to be closed in the first place.
And maybe there isn't any deal at all, really.
But still, great news!
And maybe there isn't any deal at all, really.
But still, great news!
HmmmHmmm....
Israeli security minister stirs diplomatic outrage with flotilla activist abuse video
Far-right figure Itamar Ben-Gvir shares footage of himself taunting bound international detainees
Gaza activists get 'rough welcome' at Spain and Austria airports
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Spanish cops beat Gaza flotilla protesters days after Madrid condemned how Israel had treated them
17:50 AEST 25 May 2026, updated 22:40 AEST 25 May 2026
By ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER
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Gaza flotilla activists’ return to Spain after being detained by Israel descended into chaos when Basque police beat them with batons, just days after the Spanish government condemned an Israeli minister for taunting the group during their captivity.
The incident occurred as supporters gathered in the arrivals hall of Bilbao Airport to welcome six campaigners as they arrived on a flight from Turkey.
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When a relative of one of the activists tried to approach them, a police officer forcefully prevented him from doing so, leading to scuffles between both sides.
Images showed police striking people with batons at the airport and pinning others to the ground while being jeered by onlookers.
Before this, activists appeared to have blocked the exit for other passengers and police tried to move them.
Four people were arrested for serious disobedience, resisting arrest and assaulting law enforcement officers, the Basque regional police force, the Ertzaintza, said in a statement. Two of those arrested were activists who had just arrived from Turkey.
'Following what happened at the airport, the Ertzaintza internal affairs division has launched an investigation to determine whether the officers' conduct complied with procedures,' it added.
The Israeli Embassy in Spain meanwhile mockingly demanded an 'explanation' from the Spanish government over the events at Bilbao airport.
Activists appeared to have blocked the exit for other passengers and police tried to move them
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Activists appeared to have blocked the exit for other passengers and police tried to move them
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Spanish police give Gaza flotilla activists a beating at airport days after their government condemned Israel's Ben Gvir
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Spanish police give Gaza flotilla activists a beating at airport days after their government condemned Israel's Ben Gvir
Images broadcast by the station showed police striking people with batons at the airport
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Images broadcast by the station showed police striking people with batons at the airport
Basque police officers detain members of the Global Sumud Flotilla upon their arrival at Bilbao airport
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Basque police officers detain members of the Global Sumud Flotilla upon their arrival at Bilbao airport
When a relative of one of the activists tried to approach them, a police officer forcefully prevented him from doing so
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When a relative of one of the activists tried to approach them, a police officer forcefully prevented him from doing so
Relatives react to the arrest of several activists by members of the Ertzaintza at Bilbao airport
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Relatives react to the arrest of several activists by members of the Ertzaintza at Bilbao airport
Amnesty International condemned what it described as the 'excessive use of force' by Basque police officers at the airport and called for 'effective accountability' over the incident.
'The images published show no legitimate cause for the use of force,' it added in a statement.
'It is very serious that batons were repeatedly used against people who had already been knocked down and were on the ground.'
After the incident over the weekend, around two thousand protesters took to the streets of Bilbao on Sunday to condemn the Basque police's treatment of the activists.
The Basque regional police force said in a statement yesterday it had launched an investigation to determine if officers complied with procedures.
On Sunday's march, pro-Palestinian demonstrators carried banners criticising the Basque police force and accusing the local government of being complicit with Zionism.
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It comes as Spain was among a series of Western governments on Thursday which expressed their anger after Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video of himself mocking the activists as they were pinned to the ground in a prison.
Ben-Gvir posted the video to his X account on Wednesday with the caption: 'That's how we welcome the terror supporters. Welcome to Israel.'
The footage shows masked officers aggressively subduing Gaza flotilla activists by pushing them down, forcing them onto all fours, and dragging them across the floor.
The detainees are then seen zip-tied and lined up inside a warehouse, kneeling with their faces pressed to the ground, as the minister waves an Israeli flag and shouts:
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'Welcome to Israel. We're the landlords,' followed by, 'Good job. That's how you do it.'
Tensions also emerged at Vienna Airport on Sunday night following the arrival of flotilla activists, who were greeted by supporters in the terminal with Palestinian flags and chants.
As the situation escalated and the group became loud and obstructive, around 10 police officers intervened.
One activist was arrested and had to be restrained on the ground by officers
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The Austrian police force defended their actions, claiming they used 'proportionate force.'
Hundreds of activists from countries around the world were detained in Israel after they were intercepted at sea last Monday while attempting to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.
The group included 44 Spanish nationals, according to Spain's foreign ministry.
Around 20 other activists from the flotilla landed at Barcelona airport on Saturday, where they were welcomed by supporters, including Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun.
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Organisers alleged on Friday that the activists were subjected to abuse while in Israeli detention.
Tensions also emerged at Vienna Airport on Sunday night where a Palestinian activist was arrested
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Tensions also emerged at Vienna Airport on Sunday night where a Palestinian activist was arrested
Amnesty International condemned what it described as the 'excessive use of force' by Basque police officers
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Amnesty International condemned what it described as the 'excessive use of force' by Basque police officers
The Israeli Embassy in Spain meanwhile mockingly demanded an 'explanation' from the Spanish government over the events at Bilbao airport
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The Israeli Embassy in Spain meanwhile mockingly demanded an 'explanation' from the Spanish government over the events at Bilbao airport
Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories, has called for those responsible for events at Bilbao airport to be held responsible
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Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories, has called for those responsible for events at Bilbao airport to be held responsible
Israel minister sparks fury taunting Gaza flotilla activists
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Ben-Gvir posted a video to his X account on Wednesday taunting flotilla detainees with the caption: 'That's how we welcome the terror supporters. Welcome to Israel'
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Ben-Gvir posted a video to his X account on Wednesday taunting flotilla detainees with the caption: 'That's how we welcome the terror supporters. Welcome to Israel'
After the incident over the weekend, around two thousand protesters took to the streets of Bilbao on Sunday to condemn the Basque police's treatment of the activists
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After the incident over the weekend, around two thousand protesters took to the streets of Bilbao on Sunday to condemn the Basque police's treatment of the activists
Global Sumud Flotilla said the group had documented at least 15 cases of sexual abuse, with the worst occurring on one Israeli landing craft which had been converted into a makeshift prison with barbed wire and shipping containers.
Detainees were thrown into the containers and beaten over the head and ribs, the group said in a statement.
They suffered multiple cases of sexual abuse, including 'humiliating strip searches, sexual taunting, groping and pulling of genitals, and multiple accounts of rape.'
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'At least 12 sexual assaults have been documented on that vessel alone, including anal rape and forcible penetration by a handgun,' it added.
Germany said some of its nationals had been injured and that some accusations were 'serious', without giving further details.
A legal source in Italy said prosecutors there were investigating possible crimes including kidnapping and sexual assault.
Israel's prison service has denied the allegations.
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'The allegations raised are false and entirely without factual basis,' an Israeli prison service spokesperson said in a statement.
'All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights and under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff,' it said.
'Medical care is provided according to professional medical judgment and in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines.'
Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories, has called for those responsible for events at Bilbao airport to be held responsible, while Amnesty International has demanded a thorough investigation.
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They were Scotland's ultimate power couple and his spending binges would make Imelda Marcos blush. How could Nicola Sturgeon not know?
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What Ben-Gvir did was wrong. Probably not as wrong as those predictably shrieking about it immediately would say but it was unnecessary. He’s obviously very right wing but the Israeli electoral system gives him and Smotrich a lot more power than their share of the vote should (about 5%). It’s probably in everyone’s interests if he’s ****ed off after the next election this year but again the system is so fragmented he’s probably got a decent chance of staying in. Like a Tory government needing Nick Griffin in the government in the BNP’s heyday during a war. Griffin now spends his days frothing about Jews online in unrelated news.
The flotilla kids are also ridiculous idiots and rightly got some sense knocked into them by Spanish police for taking the piss at an airport. You have to have a ludicrous level of entitlement to **** with Spanish police and not expect a pasting.
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They should bulldoze it along with the rest of Stratford. Admit the whole area was a mistake and just get rid. All the character of Chernobyl with less affable people.
Stratford is an international transport hub, linking various **** parts of London no one wants to go to, but at least now they can.
The Boleyn Ground was a great old football stadium, but was a total nightmare to get in and out of the area by tube. Now you can quickly and efficiently arrive at the soulless bowl the Spammers call home.
It might be quick to arrive there but after our FAC match there it was almost an hour queuing to get into the station. Complete joke
Conversely not nearly so slow to get away post match on the many times I've been to matches at the Boleyn
Utterly unbelievable that Kranky didn't know that her husband had pocketed the contents of the SNP bank account over a number of years
Totally. If I parked a brand new £100k campervan on my drive, I'm fairly certain my wife would be asking questions.
Also pretty suss that this story is back in the headlines AFTER the Scottish elections....
Was very quick going home via Pudding Mill Lane. Made the error of heading in via Stratford but you do get the full Chernobyl experience walking from there.