POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

Good job you aren't in charge Maz. There would be riots. Besides, on the quiet the more people that get Covid the sooner we reach herd immunity. Like it or not, that or a vaccine is the way all new infections lose their power and I have a suspicion that though this is not voiced it is never far from the minds of our leaders.

[Marilyn]

It’s like driving a car. The driver is responsible for everyone wearing seat belts. Most people do...some refuse.
Make them get out and walk if they refuse to buckle up. It is not worth a debt to you that they will not conform.

[Tizer]

I notice the news this morning that `The UK government will not extend the Brexit transition period, despite calls from the first ministers of Scotland and Wales.' This is just one more bit of evidence that we're heading for a break up of the UK but that's far from the only thing to worry about. Sorry to be so pessimistic but I see rough times ahead on a global scale. We're in deep trouble and I'm not talking about differences in party politics - most of the politicians in the free world are not fit for purpose and they're handing over control to populist groups. I see us being forced to shift to more authoritarian government, heavy-handed control, loss of personal freedoms etc.

[Whyperion]

I have to point out that the problem with track & trace is that 30% of people identified for contact are not responding.

hopefully they having got a text are indeed isolation to ill to do the phone reply

[Stanley]

Tiz, the question of extension of Brexit is coming towards the top of the agenda as we reach the end of June. Pressure is rising and I note the increasing volume of noise from all quarters about the government 'trashing about' and having a U Turn a day. Reading between the lines the Tory pressure particularly is putting Cummings up as the fall guy, he is regarded (quite rightly in my opinion) as a malign and unelected influence in No. 10. This is coupled with doubts about Johnson's fitness after Covid. The inference is that he is being led by the nose.
A U turn on Brexit extension is not out of question.

[Tizer]

What is Labour's policy now on Brexit? Lie back and think of England? Or hope for an extension? Or...what?

[plaques]

What is Labour's policy now on Brexit?

Hopefully it should be what's in the manifesto. With a 80 seat majority the Tories can do what they or Rees Mogg likes. With the covid-19 on us the phrase 'Go to Hell in a Handcart' has a very literal meaning.

[Stanley]

David Lammy slams Johnson over the proposed race review. See THIS report. He says there have been enough reviews and recommendations, what is needed is action not another review.

[PanBiker]

What is Labour's policy now on Brexit?

Hopefully it should be what's in the manifesto. With a 80 seat majority the Tories can do what they or Rees Mogg likes. With the covid-19 on us the phrase 'Go to Hell in a Handcart' has a very literal meaning.

Indeed, and developing and forming the next manifesto will be a totally different process with all branch and constituency meetings suspended until further notice.

[Whyperion]

In parliament the trick has to be to use the words in Cons Manifesto, or Withdrawal Agreement to hang the manoeverves out to show where the Government is creating insecure of quality of life for people as a result of their approach to the brexit process.

[Tizer]

This will have Trump shouting `fake news!'...
`Mary Trump: Why has president's niece penned damning memoir?' LINK

[Stanley]

I see Thérèse Anne Coffey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions had a stupid Twitter Row with Marcus Rashford and has had to do a reverse ferret. Later It was announced that the decision to stop food vouchers had been reinstated. (LINK)

[Whyperion]

She does have a point about water costs and supply though, and an obvious one to correct ( of course many worldwide have no clean safe avalible water at all and this virus is a disaster atop already social injustice ). However reductions in Water Bill tend to favour smaller households - fitting of meter or 'deemed supply' tariffs , plus the help for those on lower incomes or specific medical conditions varies across England - with a substantial discount to some in London, which is not available to same circumstance in the United Utilities Area.

[Whyperion]

PM Johnson claimed he was unaware of food support programmes ending when schools go on holiday, until this morning. I suppose the top person does not have to be aware of every detail but it must have been mentioned when the decision to carry over during school holidays occured ?

Meanwhile a distraction or a long overdue reorganisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office will merge with the Department for International Development (Dfid) to create a new department, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

In some ways this will politicise even more the workings of international aid - often given with big strings, and often for money to benefit UK suppliers to the reciepent nations. But it is not much difference to the influence China buys. The trick will be to ensure amounts are targeted, and hopefully for Daily Mail readers not excessive to undeserving nations.

[PanBiker]

What is Labour's policy now on Brexit?

Hopefully it should be what's in the manifesto. With a 80 seat majority the Tories can do what they or Rees Mogg likes. With the covid-19 on us the phrase 'Go to Hell in a Handcart' has a very literal meaning.

Indeed, and developing and forming the next manifesto will be a totally different process with all branch and constituency meetings suspended until further notice.

I received an email this morning inviting me to take part in a Labour Party open policy forum for the North West Constituencies. This will be an online forum where you can put forward and debate items for inclusion on the next Labour Party manifesto. I assume this will be taking part in all other Regional Constituency Areas. No central party conference this year which is where this activity normally takes place. This is the only way that I can see that it can be done under the present circumstance.

[Whyperion]

Indeed I suppose their need to be two lines of thought,

Activities and Desires irregardless of Brexit
Items related to Brexit Consequences
(things like employment conditions possibly cross both).

How can new spending be effective, we are going to need more health capacity, and new designs in housing, internally and in urban and suburban locations, a farm food and feed system that is robust to protect incomes, be affordable and environmentally sound. Some ideas of re-visiting what led to 1948 election wins, and things like Energy and Water companies into public ownership I would still not dismiss as a long term aim - any counter arguements you can point to many being owned by European nations or companies anyway, likewise rail passenger services ( nationalised in all but name anyway as it is ). If there is substance , there needs to be good means of presentation, Starmer might charm some birds off the trees, but other ministers and members are not clued in to what are the fundamentals of what Labour should stand for, and deliver.

[Tizer]

Following on from my post about Trump's niece writing a book detailing her opinions and memories of her nasty uncle Donald, now I see this too. You can tell it'll be an interesting book by the threats to sue!
`John Bolton: Trump administration sues to block book' LINK

[Whyperion]

I want to know if he always spoke like that, and is it a family trait ?

[Stanley]

Tiz, Bolton's book evidently shreds Trump, they'll move heaven and earth to publish before the election !
See THIS for a BBC report of spending £900,000 on painting the official plane. That won't go down well!
What struck me at home yesterday was the ongoing row over free meals for deprived children and questions as to why the government needed reminding about this. I heard an interview with a lady who ran a food bank and she said that demand for food had trebled over the last two months and thankfully due largely to the generosity of local supermarkets they had been able to fulfil the demand, but only just. One thing that stands out a mile is that the Tories never mention food banks and certainly give them no support. Billions of Pounds are being sprayed out over the community and big industry. How about a tiny fraction for the food banks?
Then I hear that we are spending £900,000 on painting the PM's personal jet.....

[plaques]

Bolton has nothing to brag about he watered down all comment on Global Warming. Promoted first strike nuclear capabilities and weapons in space. In short a recipe for total armageddon.

[Tizer]

Tiz, Bolton's book evidently shreds Trump, they'll move heaven and earth to publish before the election !

Thousands of copies have already been distributed before official publication - and the official date is only weeks away.

[Tripps]

we are spending £900,000 on painting the PM's personal jet....

It surely can't cost that much just to repaint it? I saw a TV programme a while ago - it may have been B.A. and a repaint was no big deal. I think it was done overnight Surely more of a re-fit, and it's not just for the PM - ministers and HM Queen and her gang, can also use it.

Should they travel by Ryanair? I think not. We are the 5th biggest economy in the world.

[PanBiker]

I think I heard that it's going to be repainted with a Union Flag theme to be more "in keeping" with it's usage. I find this rather strange when the Union of the United Kingdom in itself is at risk over Brexit issues! It's still a lot of brass and they didn't ask me to tender, shame really, I'll do it for half price.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report. Isn't Raab a sweetie!
He should make sure his brain is in gear before opening his mouth and voicing opinions like that!

[Tripps]

He should make sure his brain is in gear before opening his mouth and voicing opinions like that!

Maybe he did?