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 .
sb_73 said:
Not sure where this could go, but here is good enough.

Was at a mate’s 60th birthday party last night, and a jolly time was had by all. I’ve known him nearly 40 years, we worked together in Hong Kong, he’s returned here with his (HK Chinese) wife relatively recently. Quite a few other newly returned people at this thing too. I asked a few whether the current ‘situation’ in HK with the clamp down on freedom of speech etc had a role in them deciding to leave. They all very politely, and in quite a well practiced way, dodged the question.

Felt it was odd at the time, but it was a party so I didn’t press it. And the beer was plentiful and there were lots of other things to chat about, like how the hell his son has ended up as an apprentice scout for Villa. Only this morning did I realise why they didn’t want to discuss this. Most of these people have lived most (in the case of my mate, we were early twenties when we started work there, I left after 3 years, he was there for 35 at least) or all (for the HK Chinese present) of their lives there. They have family and close friends there, and will want to return for visits etc. For those, like my mate, who worked for the government, or one of the universities, their pensions are drawn from there. They were scared. Even in a party and amongst friends, they were worried that a critical word could get back to the Chinese Communist Party, and have ‘consequences’.

And, on reflection, I don’t blame them. Freedom of speech isn’t just about laws, it’s about fear and self censorship.
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I can't speak for your friend but my understanding these are the main reasons a lot of people from HK have been migrating to the UK:

1. Political refugees, especially the ones who are very anti china and are likely to be arrested for political activities
2. A better life for your average middle class family. The education system is notoriously competitive and children have so many extra curricular activities that they aren't allowed to be children. With the opening up of visas handed out to middle class family which was much harder before, it's far easier to emigrate over and give a better life to kids
3. People who want to live under democracy but aren't political refugees

All in all, it's a no brainer in terms of family lifestyle. Sell your 600 square foot flat for half a million plus, come to the UK where you can get a nice big house with way more space and countryside for your kids and more if you move up north (liverpool and manchester are massive hotbeds).

The limiting factor before was not getting a passport/visa whereas that obstacle is out of the way. Hong Kong is best for younger people, its 24 hour night life, really low tax working and a great base for travelling asia.
 
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Staines R's said:
Wills has it spot on….very difficult to find an honest politician right now.
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The 'Honourable' members lie with impunity so being financially dishonest, as proved by the expenses scandal, would appear second nature to them. Local politics is even worse as my 'rotten borough' Croydon continues to piss off it's residents after bankruptcy. All those involved are still councillors and seeking re-election...
 
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Sooperhoop said:
The 'Honourable' members lie with impunity so being financially dishonest, as proved by the expenses scandal, would appear second nature to them. Local politics is even worse as my 'rotten borough' Croydon continues to piss off it's residents after bankruptcy. All those involved are still councillors and seeking re-election...
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I regularly have ‘discussions’ with our local councillors and find them mostly people who aren’t in it for the good of local residents, but more for themselves and the vast amount in expenses that they can claim..it’s a career move for many of them so it seems.
There is only one locally who I have respect for, a Lib Dem, who often takes on local issues and complaints and who I’ve even seen regularly on ‘litter picking’ patrols. He knows I wouldn’t vote for his party in a million years but I hold him in the highest regard.
 
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Staines R's said:
I regularly have ‘discussions’ with our local councillors and find them mostly people who aren’t in it for the good of local residents, but more for themselves and the vast amount in expenses that they can claim..it’s a career move for many of them so it seems.
There is only one locally who I have respect for, a Lib Dem, who often takes on local issues and complaints and who I’ve even seen regularly on ‘litter picking’ patrols. He knows I wouldn’t vote for his party in a million years but I hold him in the highest regard.
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Most near mine I suspect do it for the supposed social standing. Sally Keeble is a genuinely good politician though with decent morals. https://bylinetimes.com/2019/11/04/...y-im-supporting-her-campaign-as-a-journalist/
 
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Anyone noticed that every Tory giving a political interview this weekend has talked about the need to give Britain a pay rise?

Perhaps I'm over extrapolating, but sounds a lot to me like softening the ground for a big announcement from Boris on Wednesday. Bet he'll make a big announcement on a big minimum wage increase. Completely parking his tank on Labour's lawn again, which is straight from his playbook.
 
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Politics For All

@PoliticsForAlI
· Oct 3
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| BREAKING: Three Labour MPs are considering defecting to the Conservatives Via @MoS_Politics
 
Quite Possibly Raving said:
Anyone noticed that every Tory giving a political interview this weekend has talked about the need to give Britain a pay rise?

Perhaps I'm over extrapolating, but sounds a lot to me like softening the ground for a big announcement from Boris on Wednesday. Bet he'll make a big announcement on a big minimum wage increase. Completely parking his tank on Labour's lawn again, which is straight from his playbook.
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Wouldn’t surprise me. A wage of £4.62 ph for a 16-17 year old is nothing more than slave labour.
 
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Saff said:
I really can't see the Conservatives raising the minimum wage to £15ph which is what the lunatic side of Labour are wanting.
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I honestly thought the £15 an hour thing was a case of aim high/ accept less (I could be wrong).
What do you think is a reasonable minimum wage ? Personally about the £11-£12 area for me would be about right.
 
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