Off Topic The Politics Thread

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Should the UK remain a part of the EU or leave?

  • Stay in

    Votes: 56 47.9%
  • Get out

    Votes: 61 52.1%

  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .
Can anyone tell me why the £ is in free fall against both the $ and the €? With the little raise in US interest rates I can understand the $ bit, but as far as I can remember it's quite odd to be falling against both. About 10% devaluation against both in the last few weeks, and speeding up. Honestly have no idea why this is. Any ideas?


Problems in China makes people want to switch to safer currencies.
 
Charlotte Rampling, yay or nay
If you mean, would I? Not these days, but in her youth,most certainly.

If you mean her comments about the Oscars thing, then yep, she's probably right, even though it could have been phrased better. If there's a problem (not saying there is or isn't) with under-representation of any group, what they need to do is make changes to the selection and voting panels to remove it. Then let the performances win the awards and nominations that they deserve. But anything that gives any racial or social group a better rating than the acting merits is wrong.
 
So Cecil Parkinson departs this life. RIP. Son of a railway worker, grammar school boy that won a scholarship to Cambridge. Rose to great heights as one of Thatcher's confidants and trusted ministers, brought down by lust with his secretary.

I wonder if Parkinson was young and in politics today, and was subject to the same events with his secretary Sara Keyes, whether his career would have suffered the same downfall. Are we a bit more tolerant of indiscretions after Paddy Pantsdown and Prescott's escapades with his secretary over the desk, or do we still find it morally reprehensible? Did Parkinson suffer in particular because Keyes allowed herself to get pregnant (it seems it was a deliberate act, on which Cecil was not consulted) Was it that the poor child born subsequently had disabilities? May be we'll get some answers from commentators over the coming days
 
So Cecil Parkinson departs this life. RIP. Son of a railway worker, grammar school boy that won a scholarship to Cambridge. Rose to great heights as one of Thatcher's confidants and trusted ministers, brought down by lust with his secretary.

I wonder if Parkinson was young and in politics today, and was subject to the same events with his secretary Sara Keyes, whether his career would have suffered the same downfall. Are we a bit more tolerant of indiscretions after Paddy Pantsdown and Prescott's escapades with his secretary over the desk, or do we still find it morally reprehensible? Did Parkinson suffer in particular because Keyes allowed herself to get pregnant (it seems it was a deliberate act, on which Cecil was not consulted) Was it that the poor child born subsequently had disabilities? May be we'll get some answers from commentators over the coming days
'Allowed herself to get pregnant' ?putting a nodder on beyond or beneath our Cecil then?

Struggling to remember his achievements, remind me.
 
'Allowed herself to get pregnant' ?putting a nodder on beyond or beneath our Cecil then?

Struggling to remember his achievements, remind me.

Chairman of the Tory Party, would have been Foreign Secretary had it not been for scandal. Apparently he was also responsibility for the implimentation of Big Bang in the City. He was widely tipped for even higher office

I think Keyes go pregnant deliberately to entice Cecil from his wife - that's my memory
 
Chairman of the Tory Party, would have been Foreign Secretary had it not been for scandal. Apparently he was also responsibility for the implimentation of Big Bang in the City. He was widely tipped for even higher office

MP from 1970 until 1992. Held numerous cabinet posts, and was a member of the 'war cabinet' during the Falklands War. Conservative party chairman and Paymaster General. He was a key figure throughout Margaret Thatcher's time as PM, and earned his cabinet post back after 4 years on the backbenches following the scandal, something few managed back then.
 
MP from 1970 until 1992. Held numerous cabinet posts, and was a member of the 'war cabinet' during the Falklands War. Conservative party chairman and Paymaster General. He was a key figure throughout Margaret Thatcher's time as PM, and earned his cabinet post back after 4 years on the backbenches following the scandal, something few managed back then.

Before his affair, he was tipped by many for the top job, Maggie's replacement. The irony is, he was passed over, ultimately for John Major who then started screwing Edwina Curry.
 
Never met his daughter Flora and never sent her a birthday card. He did send cash after a struggle, so obviously he was a good bloke. I'm glad his career was ****ed up. His family haven't even recognised Flora's existence in their statement.

Obviously arrogant enough to think he could shag around and get away with it, too stupid to wear a condom, too ineffectual to bully Sara Keays into an abortion and poor judge of character if Goldie's 'entrapment' accusation is true. Tebbit and Whitelaw much more substantial and influential members of that Tory generation.
 
Never met his daughter Flora and never sent her a birthday card. He did send cash after a struggle, so obviously he was a good bloke. I'm glad his career was ****ed up. His family haven't even recognised Flora's existence in their statement.

Obviously arrogant enough to think he could shag around and get away with it, too stupid to wear a condom, too ineffectual to bully Sara Keays into an abortion and poor judge of character if Goldie's 'entrapment' accusation is true. Tebbit and Whitelaw much more substantial and influential members of that Tory generation.

His treatment of Flora was undoubtedly shameful. There was huge animosity between his family and Sara Keyes which was at the base of it.

I was never sure whether Parkinson's original sacking crime, was sex with his secretary or getting her pregnant. In France, neither would be relevant to the way the man did his job.

Talented man, human frailties.