Great news Staines, the big test will come when you have to resuscitate a Chelsea supporter, the temptation to turn up the voltage may be irresisitable...
The dilemma the David Davis finds himself made stark today. Last night talking to German businessmen he begged the EU to put prosperity above politics, in other words ignore the example set by the U.K. He also said that the U.K. would remain subject to ECJ rulings during the transition period. This morning he says at the start of the transition period we would be under the ECJ, but under a ‘different arbitration’ system by the end, obviously to keep Jake Rees Mogg and his band of loathsome spotted reptiles on board-ish. When asked what is more difficult, negotiating with the EU or negotiating with the Conservative Party he giggled manically and didn’t answer the question.
Ipsos Mori has conducted a poll on how trusted various news outlets are, with the BBC coming out top and The Sun at the bottom. Quite reassuring, I think. please log in to view this image
I imagine there's something between those two extremes but that would involve Davis not being a moron. What did you make of his performance?
GOOD NEWS! Really! Report in the Times today says that: People born before 1925 had an 8% chance of getting age related macular degeneration, which sends you blind. This falls to just 1% for those of us baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964, and will be even lower for youngsters. Deaths from heart disease are 50% of what they were a generation ago Although numbers of people with dementia are in increasing, that is because of the ageing population and chances of any individual getting it have fallen by 20% in 20 years. Cases of Meningitis B have halved since a vaccine was made available in 2015 A woman’s lifetime risk of getting cervical cancer has fallen from 2.2% in the 1970s to 0.8% now, and will be just 0.2% for those who have been given the HPV vaccine. Better living standards, large scale public health initiatives and medical science work! Sadly we will all eventually die of something or other but seems my chances of living long enough (say another 250 years) to see QPR win the Premier League are slightly improving. I am particularly confident of avoiding cervical cancer.
Further health news, Scotland leading the way in attempting to cut down binge-drinking culture, and stop all the jakeys on our streets buying cheap gut-rot booze..... Scotland is set to become the first country in the world with a minimum price for alcohol sales after the UK’s highest court rejected an appeal from Scotch whisky manufacturers. Supreme Court justices unanimously dismissed the appeal brought by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and other drinks manufacturers, who argued that the policy was “disproportionate” and illegal under European law. It brings to a close a five-year legal struggle over the ScottishGovernment’s plan to introduce a 50p minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol, in a bid to curb harmful drinking of cheap, super strong alcohol. The judgment, handed down by justice Lord Mance, said that increasing alcohol price by an excise duty or VAT increase would not be “equally effective” at targeting cheap alcohol.
Nice intention maybe but I think it’s more wanting to be seen to be doing something. Dumb idea in practice IMO. - Penalises people who aren’t problem drinkers - Essentially a poor tax as it will raise the price of the cheapest booze. A litre of 40% will be minimum £20 when it’s £15/£16 now. - Potential to make those already turning to crime to fund a habit worse.
Of course there's a middle ground. Problem is the EU have been the ones playing hard ball. As usual we all go around in circles on this. Waste of time arguing the same points on here.
Though the price rise that stood out for me was from £4 something to £11 something for a three litre plastic bottle of cider. I don’t think many social drinkers are buying those. Is the price rise tax or do the producer/ retailer keep it?
Just a rough calculation but a 3L bottle of 5.5% would have duty of £4.70 and they'd have to pay VAT too so it would be at least £6 and the retailer would still be making a loss. Retailer will keep this.
The shocker for me was you can buy a 4 pack of beer for £1, and it's going to go up to £4 - must be rank, total jakey-juice!!
I am so sick to death of hearing the EU laying down the law to the UK. I can't wait to be free of them!! I'll await the incoming with my tin hat firmly in place. Knock yourselves out!
****ing hell Col, I’m valiantly trying to change the subject, and yet you drag it back...... Going tomorrow?
It’s was because the UK is still a part of the union and the EU rules over the Union .. but some British people got sick of their own failings so decided to blame someone else. So here we are
