Off Topic Politics Thread

[thereisonlyoneno7]

Whilst I agree there is an immigration issue, I think the problem here is that the rise of Trumpian comments is normalising bad behaviour.

It is a delicate balance and two things can be true; you can acknowledge there is an immigration issue and not be racist. However, the problem in my mind is that the people acknowledging it out loud are the type of people who are racist and like driving the narrative that immigration is sole problem we have. This empowers the further right and causes division.

 

[StJabbo1]

The haters have already started on the Jews. No-one seems too bothered about that.

Starmer is using this story to deflect attention away from his own problems. He wouldn't normally get involved with someone who half the country have never heard of. It makes him look even more pathetic and those who swallow it up are no better.

Deflection no. Starmer needed to call out Ratcliff's widely reported disinformation for which he's made a mealy mouthed apology after widespread and justified condemnation. The gatemouthed gobshite Farage defended Ratcliff's bullshit, no surprise there.

 

[ChilcoSaint]

Deflection no. Starmer needed to call out Ratcliff's widely reported disinformation for which he's made a mealy mouthed apology after widespread and justified condemnation. The gatemouthed gobshite Farage defended Ratcliff's bullshit, no surprise there.

Farage’s antisemitism is also a matter of record as well, before anyone decides to start supporting that particular aspect of the argument.

 

[It'sOnlyAGame]

Starmer's the best person to point out racist comments on immigration seeing as he's got form of his own.

Key Aspects of the "Island of Strangers" Controversy:

• The Speech: Starmer argued in mid-May 2025 that high immigration levels risked breaking social ties, stating, "In a diverse nation like ours … we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together".
• Context and Criticism: The comments were made alongside proposals to cut immigration, including raising income thresholds and restricting visas. Critics, including some Labour MPs, argued this rhetoric was "shameful," "dangerous," and mimicked far-right narratives.
• Enoch Powell Comparison: Critics drew parallels between Starmer's phrase and Enoch Powell's 1968 speech, which suggested immigration made white Britons feel like "strangers in their own country". Downing Street rejected the comparison.

 

[StJabbo1]

Ben Jennings on Kelr Starmers future.

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[StJabbo1]

Deflection no. Starmer needed to call out Ratcliff's widely reported disinformation for which he's made a mealy mouthed apology after widespread and justified condemnation. The gatemouthed gobshite Farage defended Ratcliff's bullshit, no surprise there.

Manchester United assert ‘inclusive’ values as FA looks into Jim Ratcliffe comments​

"Manchester United took the extraordinary step of publicly asserting their “inclusive and welcoming” values after their co-owner Jim Ratcliffe sparked widespread condemnation with his comments about immigration.

In a statement that did not name Ratcliffe but clearly referred to his claims that the UK is being “colonised” by immigrants, United affirmed their commitment to “equality, diversity and inclusion” and described Manchester as “a city that anyone can call home”.

Ratcliffe, who issued a heavily qualified apology earlier on Thursday, could yet be on the receiving end of disciplinary action from the Football Association, which is looking into whether his words brought the game into disrepute."

 

[It'sOnlyAGame]

Rupert is still a **** then.

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This post above just about sums up why Lowe has set up his own inquiry. If anyone is a c--t it is Maitlis and JonnyUtd.

We have had over the last 30 years some of the most disgusting, inhuman behaviour ever to be carried out in this country. And on a huge scale.
Almost as bad as the offences have been the organisations that have provided a cover up for the sake of "community relations". It's taken those 30 years for some of those crimes to be prosecuted with many more outstanding and apparently still being carried out.

It's public knowledge that there was a cover up, but the people responsible have escaped punishment. Lowe was frustrated with the government for dragging it's feet in setting up the national inquiry that they initially refused. So he set up his own.
This has been met with the same response as those who tried to do something when these crimes first started. "Their motives are driven by racism".

Rupert Lowe may be a racist I don't know. But let's be clear, his inquiry is not only about Pakistani muslims it is about the (white) police, social services and local government officials, who turned a blind eye and in some cases participated themselves.
Why would any decent human being try to discredit his inquiry into getting to the people responsible for this atrocious scandal? Why do you on here ( saintrichie, jabbo, thumwood and chilco) think it is more important to shoot Lowe down than bring those despicable officials to justice?

Every time an initiative towards getting to the cause of this scandal is suggested, you speak out against it. Your life priorities are difficult to understand.

 

[Ian Thumwood]

This post above just about sums up why Lowe has set up his own inquiry. If anyone is a c--t it is Maitlis and JonnyUtd.

We have had over the last 30 years some of the most disgusting, inhuman behaviour ever to be carried out in this country. And on a huge scale.
Almost as bad as the offences have been the organisations that have provided a cover up for the sake of "community relations". It's taken those 30 years for some of those crimes to be prosecuted with many more outstanding and apparently still being carried out.

It's public knowledge that there was a cover up, but the people responsible have escaped punishment. Lowe was frustrated with the government for dragging it's feet in setting up the national inquiry that they initially refused. So he set up his own.
This has been met with the same response as those who tried to do something when these crimes first started. "Their motives are driven by racism".

Rupert Lowe may be a racist I don't know. But let's be clear, his inquiry is not only about Pakistani muslims it is about the (white) police, social services and local government officials, who turned a blind eye and in some cases participated themselves.
Why would any decent human being try to discredit his inquiry into getting to the people responsible for this atrocious scandal? Why do you on here ( saintrichie, jabbo, thumwood and chilco) think it is more important to shoot Lowe down than bring those despicable officials to justice?

Every time an initiative towards getting to the cause of this scandal is suggested, you speak out against it. Your life priorities are difficult to understand.

You are castigating a whole race / religion on the basis of a small , rancid minority. Most Muslims are aghast by the actions of these individuals. The issue with Lowe is that , whilst action against the failure of local authorities is necessary, you know yourself that there are gullible people out there (even i Chandlers Ford) who will take Lowe's comments verbatum. It is like saying all white blokes are like Fred West.

The fact that there are those such as yourself who fall hook , line and sinker for Farage's bollocks over the last 30 yrars is more of a crime.

 

[Libby]

You are castigating a whole race / religion on the basis of a small , rancid minority. Most Muslims are aghast by the actions of these individuals. The issue with Lowe is that , whilst action against the failure of local authorities is necessary, you know yourself that there are gullible people out there (even i Chandlers Ford) who will take Lowe's comments verbatum. It is like saying all white blokes are like Fred West.

The fact that there are those such as yourself who fall hook , line and sinker for Farage's bollocks over the last 30 yrars is more of a crime.

You think people falling for bollocks spouted by politicians is a worse crime than sexually abusing children?

 

[ChilcoSaint]

You think people falling for bollocks spouted by politicians is a worse crime than sexually abusing children?

That’s a ridiculous stretch.

 

[Libby]

That’s a ridiculous stretch.

It wasn't an accusation, more seeking clarification, as that's how it read to me but I struggle to believe anyone would actually think that.

What is the crime Ian is comparing to when saying 'more of a crime' if not that? Definitely needs some clarification.

 

[StJabbo1]

That’s a ridiculous stretch.

It wasn't an accusation, more seeking clarification, as that's how it read to me but I struggle to believe anyone would actually think that.

What is the crime Ian is comparing to when saying 'more of a crime' if not that? Definitely needs some clarification.

What is without doubt is the disproportional reform/alt right rhetoric highlighting asians and immigrants in general for the grooming and wider problems in society.

 

[ChilcoSaint]

It wasn't an accusation, more seeking clarification, as that's how it read to me but I struggle to believe anyone would actually think that.

What is the crime Ian is comparing to when saying 'more of a crime' if not that? Definitely needs some clarification.

Fair enough. As IOAG has specifically accused me of a similar lack of caring about children being abused I feel obliged to point out that that is potentially libellous, and I would like an apology please. Not from you Libby, but if @It'sOnlyAGame is around I would like a response.

For clarity, Rupert Lowe is on record stating that he wants all Muslims deported. Not just the minority of them involved with grooming gangs, who should obviously be in prison rather than deported, but all of them. Why does he not wish the same for Catholics, for the institutionalised sexual abuse of children carried out in their schools over decades?
It’s fairly obvious why not.

The grooming gang atrocities in Rochdale first came to the notice of most of us with the BBC series “Three Girls” in 2017. This is still available on iPlayer and I would urge everyone who hasn’t seen it to watch. That the perpetrators escaped justice for so long is one of the worst scandals in modern history.

 

[Libby]

What is without doubt is the disproportional reform/alt right rhetoric highlighting asians and immigrants in general for the grooming and wider problems in society.

No arguments there. Just thought it was a weird thing for Ian to say so it'd be nice to have some clarification on what he meant.

In fairness I didn't see anything in IOAG's post blaming all asians/muslims either. If anything he was highlighting those who allowed it continue in those cases rather than the perpetrators themselves.

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

What is without doubt is the disproportional reform/alt right rhetoric highlighting asians and immigrants in general for the grooming and wider problems in society.

Exactly. It is 1930s Germany all over again. Find a crime/issue, point the finger at a group of society, and make everyone believe through propaganda that ONLY that sector of society commits the crime.

There are **** people from all aspects of society and it isn't limited to slightly tanned people or people that follow a certain religion.

 

[Libby]

Fair enough. As IOAG has specifically accused me of a similar lack of caring about children being abused I feel obliged to point out that that is potentially libellous, and I would like an apology please. Not from you Libby, but if @It'sOnlyAGame is around I would like a response.

For clarity, Rupert Lowe is on record stating that he wants all Muslims deported. Not just the minority of them involved with grooming gangs, who should obviously be in prison rather than deported, but all of them. Why does he not wish the same for Catholics, for the institutionalised sexual abuse of children carried out in their schools over decades?
It’s fairly obvious why not.

The grooming gang atrocities in Rochdale first came to the notice of most of us with the BBC series “Three Girls” in 2017. This is still available on iPlayer and I would urge everyone who hasn’t seen it to watch. That the perpetrators escaped justice for so long is one of the worst scandals in modern history.

Lowe is a proper count, no doubt about that at all.

Agree with your final paragraph. The fact it was allowed to go on so long is a true disgrace.

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

In fairness I didn't see anything in IOAG's post blaming all asians/muslims either. If anything he was highlighting those who allowed it continue in those cases rather than the perpetrators themselves.

I agree 100% - IOAG sits slightly further right than me, but even with my ethnicity and sometimes sensitivity to remarks, I do not find his posts offensive.

 

[tiggermaster]

So the high court rules for Palestine Action. Seems you can be my age and protest peacefully after all..

 

[Puck]

You are castigating a whole race / religion on the basis of a small , rancid minority. Most Muslims are aghast by the actions of these individuals. The issue with Lowe is that , whilst action against the failure of local authorities is necessary, you know yourself that there are gullible people out there (even i Chandlers Ford) who will take Lowe's comments verbatum. It is like saying all white blokes are like Fred West.

The fact that there are those such as yourself who fall hook , line and sinker for Farage's bollocks over the last 30 yrars is more of a crime.

Their wives seemed quite happy to blame the girls who were being abused.

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[StJabbo1]

Their wives seemed quite happy to blame the girls who were being abused.

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Posting aged articles from the Mail on Sunday says nothing for the credibility of the gutter press that it is and even less for yours. No doubt you expect comment along those lines wouldn't want to disapoint.