NPR

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:33 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:27 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:20 am The wicked witch from Witham says "find your own housing"

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2 ... ightmove

Don't know the timescales involved, but is this so unreasonable after a year being housed in a hotel? That's enough time to get settled to an extent over here.

You'd have thought the home office would have a resettlement team in place? Seems a bit odd to (a) have them in hotels for a year anyway especially when there's so many jobs around and then (b) tell them to do it themselves. What about credit checks for example? I can't imagine renting in the UK is that similar to renting in Afghanistan.

And when I say you'd have thought I mean the government obviously don't.

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:45 am There are all the knock-on effects on businesses which will incur extra costs that have to be passed onto goods and services - and during a time when consumers will have much, much less disposable income . Many business already struggling and that's before they have to worry about massive increases in costs for heating / refrigeration. It really is going to be carnage, and our government either refuse to see that, don't care or don't have a clue what to do about it. The timing of the shitshow of the leadership contest doesn't help but neither does going on holiday for several weeks when they should be 100% focused on the upcoming crisis. And we're going to have a total dipshit of a PM to deal with it. Oh joy...

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:33 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:27 am Don't know the timescales involved, but is this so unreasonable after a year being housed in a hotel? That's enough time to get settled to an extent over here.

You'd have thought the home office would have a resettlement team in place? Seems a bit odd to (a) have them in hotels for a year anyway especially when there's so many jobs around and then (b) tell them to do it themselves. What about credit checks for example? I can't imagine renting in the UK is that similar to renting in Afghanistan.

And when I say you'd have thought I mean the government obviously don't.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:35 am Starmer has come out and said the cap should be freezed so I presume the govt will bailout suppliers going bust e.g. the financial crash.

On another note, plans are being drawn up by academy trusts for schools to only open 3 days per week to deal with the cost of heating. I really don't think people appreciate how bad this is going to be. Across Europe this winter there will be discussions on how long we can support Ukraine, I predict.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:23 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:35 am Starmer has come out and said the cap should be freezed so I presume the govt will bailout suppliers going bust e.g. the financial crash.

On another note, plans are being drawn up by academy trusts for schools to only open 3 days per week to deal with the cost of heating. I really don't think people appreciate how bad this is going to be. Across Europe this winter there will be discussions on how long we can support Ukraine, I predict.

What would no longer supporting Ukraine do?

I could be being thick, but surely the profits energy companies are enjoying demonstrate that the main problem is less supply and more their sheer greed combined with a lack of will from government to rein them in.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:23 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:35 am Starmer has come out and said the cap should be freezed so I presume the govt will bailout suppliers going bust e.g. the financial crash.

On another note, plans are being drawn up by academy trusts for schools to only open 3 days per week to deal with the cost of heating. I really don't think people appreciate how bad this is going to be. Across Europe this winter there will be discussions on how long we can support Ukraine, I predict.

What would no longer supporting Ukraine do?

I could be being thick, but surely the profits energy companies are enjoying demonstrate that the main problem is less supply and more their sheer greed combined with a lack of will from government to rein them in.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:23 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:35 am Starmer has come out and said the cap should be freezed so I presume the govt will bailout suppliers going bust e.g. the financial crash.

On another note, plans are being drawn up by academy trusts for schools to only open 3 days per week to deal with the cost of heating. I really don't think people appreciate how bad this is going to be. Across Europe this winter there will be discussions on how long we can support Ukraine, I predict.

What would no longer supporting Ukraine do?

I could be being thick, but surely the profits energy companies are enjoying demonstrate that the main problem is less supply and more their sheer greed combined with a lack of will from government to rein them in.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:42 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:23 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:35 am Starmer has come out and said the cap should be freezed so I presume the govt will bailout suppliers going bust e.g. the financial crash.

On another note, plans are being drawn up by academy trusts for schools to only open 3 days per week to deal with the cost of heating. I really don't think people appreciate how bad this is going to be. Across Europe this winter there will be discussions on how long we can support Ukraine, I predict.

What would no longer supporting Ukraine do?

I could be being thick, but surely the profits energy companies are enjoying demonstrate that the main problem is less supply and more their sheer greed combined with a lack of will from government to rein them in.

A funny thing happens to supply when you cut off a major producer. Right or wrong, I think a bad winter it becomes a debate.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 3:16 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:42 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:23 pm

What would no longer supporting Ukraine do?

I could be being thick, but surely the profits energy companies are enjoying demonstrate that the main problem is less supply and more their sheer greed combined with a lack of will from government to rein them in.

A funny thing happens to supply when you cut off a major producer. Right or wrong, I think a bad winter it becomes a debate.

I suppose my point is, the energy companies could be charging less than they are right now. Yes, their costs have gone up, but, clearly not that much given how much profit they're making. Obviously they're all a pack of cunts who aren't going to price cap or lower anything out of the goodness of their hearts, but there's room to work with for a government that has the desire to when it comes to dropping legislation on them that mitigates the profiteering and helps the populace at large.

Equally, if we go to Russia cap in hand, do prices actually improve where it matters (for the consumer) or do they try and extort us? All the while we show ourselves to be a fairweather ally and that costs a lot of influence and power globally.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:42 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:23 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:35 am Starmer has come out and said the cap should be freezed so I presume the govt will bailout suppliers going bust e.g. the financial crash.

On another note, plans are being drawn up by academy trusts for schools to only open 3 days per week to deal with the cost of heating. I really don't think people appreciate how bad this is going to be. Across Europe this winter there will be discussions on how long we can support Ukraine, I predict.

What would no longer supporting Ukraine do?

I could be being thick, but surely the profits energy companies are enjoying demonstrate that the main problem is less supply and more their sheer greed combined with a lack of will from government to rein them in.

A funny thing happens to supply when you cut off a major producer. Right or wrong, I think a bad winter it becomes a debate.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 3:57 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:42 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:23 pm

What would no longer supporting Ukraine do?

I could be being thick, but surely the profits energy companies are enjoying demonstrate that the main problem is less supply and more their sheer greed combined with a lack of will from government to rein them in.

A funny thing happens to supply when you cut off a major producer. Right or wrong, I think a bad winter it becomes a debate.

Especially in Germany where attitudes to Russia are different to here and there is a substantial wing of their politics wedded to having half decent relations with Russia.
I don't think Britain or France will break on this, but can certainly see Germany trying and countries that are particularly economically connected to Germany doing little about it.

dpedin wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 4:37 pm This map sums up this Tory Gov and the gross failure of privatisation of essential utilities and services. Paying more for shitty water services, swimming in shit being pumped into rivers and seas whilst draining rivers and endangered chalk streams about sums it up really. Water and sewage should never have been privatised in England, profit overrides public health and safety. Feck knows what water and sewage services are going to be like in next 10 years.

Over 70% of these companies is owned by overseas investors including the Governments of Australia, Canada, Kuwait, Norway, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, UAE and private companies based in: Australia, Bermuda, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Jersey, Malaysia, Netherlands, Switzerland and US.

I'm not saying Scottish Water is perfect, they have their faults, but in comparison to these private companies they are the good guys. I think the CEO of Scottish Water gets paid £267k basic and last year got a 90k bonus. This was seen as excessive and created a bit of a political stushie for the Gov. However this was dwarfed by salaries of CEO's in privatised industries who averaged somewhere around £1.7m. Talk about being ripped off!

Biffer wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 4:44 pm Big question - can USA step up and find a way to ship LNG to Europe at huge rates? Problem is tankers not supply, but trying to reprioritise where shipments are made in order to break Russia isn't beyond the imagination.

Get back to work, you fat ponce !

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 7:28 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 9:38 am This one's real!

A Foreign Office official raised concerns about plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing state surveillance, arbitrary detention, torture and killings by the country’s government, the high court has heard.

He cited one document from a Foreign Office official which states: “There are state control, security, surveillance structures from the national level down to [households]. Political opposition is not tolerated and arbitrary detention, torture and even killings are accepted methods of enforcing control too.”

At that hearing it emerged in court documents that on 10 February 2021, the UK high commissioner to Rwanda said the UK should not do a deal with Rwanda because the country had been accused of recruiting refugees to conduct armed operations in neighbouring nations.
A Foreign Office memo dated 20 May 2021 urged No 10 not to get involved with the Rwanda deal owing to significant human rights concerns.

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 4:41 pm No wonder they want to keep it all confidential!!!

A Foreign Office official raised concerns about plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing state surveillance, arbitrary detention, torture and killings by the country’s government, the high court has heard.

He cited one document from a Foreign Office official which states: “There are state control, security, surveillance structures from the national level down to [households]. Political opposition is not tolerated and arbitrary detention, torture and even killings are accepted methods of enforcing control too.”

At that hearing it emerged in court documents that on 10 February 2021, the UK high commissioner to Rwanda said the UK should not do a deal with Rwanda because the country had been accused of recruiting refugees to conduct armed operations in neighbouring nations.
A Foreign Office memo dated 20 May 2021 urged No 10 not to get involved with the Rwanda deal owing to significant human rights concerns.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2 ... seekers

salanya wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 6:54 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 4:41 pm No wonder they want to keep it all confidential!!!

A Foreign Office official raised concerns about plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing state surveillance, arbitrary detention, torture and killings by the country’s government, the high court has heard.

He cited one document from a Foreign Office official which states: “There are state control, security, surveillance structures from the national level down to [households]. Political opposition is not tolerated and arbitrary detention, torture and even killings are accepted methods of enforcing control too.”

At that hearing it emerged in court documents that on 10 February 2021, the UK high commissioner to Rwanda said the UK should not do a deal with Rwanda because the country had been accused of recruiting refugees to conduct armed operations in neighbouring nations.
A Foreign Office memo dated 20 May 2021 urged No 10 not to get involved with the Rwanda deal owing to significant human rights concerns.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2 ... seekers

The most ridiculous thing is that Rwanda's record on human rights is known quite publicly - all of this is a surprise to absolutely nobody.

The fact that these Tory politicians were so keen to go ahead with this policy (being ridiculous in cost and effort as well as the humanitarian impact) just shows their true colours. And now we know any claims of ignorance on this issue were also false.

Pollution warnings are in place for almost 50 beaches in England and Wales after untreated sewage was discharged into the sea around the coast.

Official data shows discharges have taken place since Monday and Southern Water says they have been made to protect homes and businesses.

It follows a period of heavy rain across southern England, after a spell of extremely dry weather.

Data was provided by water companies to the Safer Seas and Rivers Service.

The service is run by the charity Surfers Against Sewage.

Sewage regularly dumped illegally in England and Wales rivers
Environment Agency seeks jail for polluting water bosses
Many of the beaches contaminated are popular resorts, and include Bognor Regis, Lulworth Cove, Newquay, Eastbourne and Southend-on-Sea.

The majority are along England's south coast.

Southern Water is one of the water companies responsible for those regions, along with Wessex Water and South West Water.

In a statement, Southern Water said: "There were thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain the night before last and yesterday [Tuesday]. Storm releases were made to protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding. The release is 95-97% rainwater and so should not be described as raw sewage.

"We know customers do not like that the industry has to rely on these [discharges] to protect them, and we are pioneering a new approach."

Last year Southern Water was fined a record £90m after admitting deliberately dumping vast amounts of sewage into sea across the south coast.

These kind of discharges - which are legal - mostly happen after heavy rain, when there is a risk that pipes, which carry storm-water along with sewage, may overflow.

This is only supposed to happen in exceptional circumstances. However, in 2020 and 2021, there were almost 400,000 spill events.

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:19 pm
They still managed to dump 48m cubic metres of sewage into our seas and rivers last year, mainly around urban areas. That’s 40% more than 5 years ago. Excuse the pun, but it’s still fucking shite

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:36 am Its for your own good !

Pollution warnings are in place for almost 50 beaches in England and Wales after untreated sewage was discharged into the sea around the coast.

Official data shows discharges have taken place since Monday and Southern Water says they have been made to protect homes and businesses.

It follows a period of heavy rain across southern England, after a spell of extremely dry weather.

Data was provided by water companies to the Safer Seas and Rivers Service.

The service is run by the charity Surfers Against Sewage.

Sewage regularly dumped illegally in England and Wales rivers
Environment Agency seeks jail for polluting water bosses
Many of the beaches contaminated are popular resorts, and include Bognor Regis, Lulworth Cove, Newquay, Eastbourne and Southend-on-Sea.

The majority are along England's south coast.

Southern Water is one of the water companies responsible for those regions, along with Wessex Water and South West Water.

In a statement, Southern Water said: "There were thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain the night before last and yesterday [Tuesday]. Storm releases were made to protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding. The release is 95-97% rainwater and so should not be described as raw sewage.

"We know customers do not like that the industry has to rely on these [discharges] to protect them, and we are pioneering a new approach."

Last year Southern Water was fined a record £90m after admitting deliberately dumping vast amounts of sewage into sea across the south coast.

These kind of discharges - which are legal - mostly happen after heavy rain, when there is a risk that pipes, which carry storm-water along with sewage, may overflow.

This is only supposed to happen in exceptional circumstances. However, in 2020 and 2021, there were almost 400,000 spill events.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62574105

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:30 am

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:19 pm
They still managed to dump 48m cubic metres of sewage into our seas and rivers last year, mainly around urban areas. That’s 40% more than 5 years ago. Excuse the pun, but it’s still fucking shite

Aye, Scottish Water are a middle of the pack water company in terms of overall performance. Could almost certainly do with a bump in bills but the Government will never sign off on it which is understandable. Leaves a lot of aging assets though.

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:36 am

Somewhat confusingly, in a separate interview with the Times, Shapps said he was “not attracted to the bureaucracy of registration plates”, adding: “That would go too far.”

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:51 am Aye, just being better than the companies in England is not a high bar. Still needs investment but we won't get it within the UK.

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 12:00 pm

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:36 am

Yet in The Times:

Somewhat confusingly, in a separate interview with the Times, Shapps said he was “not attracted to the bureaucracy of registration plates”, adding: “That would go too far.”

Fucking useless twat!

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:51 am

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:30 am

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:19 pm
They still managed to dump 48m cubic metres of sewage into our seas and rivers last year, mainly around urban areas. That’s 40% more than 5 years ago. Excuse the pun, but it’s still fucking shite

Aye, Scottish Water are a middle of the pack water company in terms of overall performance. Could almost certainly do with a bump in bills but the Government will never sign off on it which is understandable. Leaves a lot of aging assets though.

Aye, just being better than the companies in England is not a high bar. Still needs investment but we won't get it within the UK.