NPR

Tory MP Liam Fox received a £20,000 donation in June from a Covid testing firm on whose behalf he had contacted the then health secretary Matt Hancock.
Mr Fox recommended SureScreen Diagnostics to Mr Hancock in 2020, an email seen by campaign group Good Law Project and the BBC shows.
The company went on to win a £500m contract to provide tests without facing competition.

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Sep 03, 2022 9:34 am Nice little £20k thankyou present for Dr Fox!

Tory MP Liam Fox received a £20,000 donation in June from a Covid testing firm on whose behalf he had contacted the then health secretary Matt Hancock.
Mr Fox recommended SureScreen Diagnostics to Mr Hancock in 2020, an email seen by campaign group Good Law Project and the BBC shows.
The company went on to win a £500m contract to provide tests without facing competition.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62766148

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sat Sep 03, 2022 3:47 pm Well who couldn't have guessed this was coming...

The article of course is paywalled, but the things hinted at are mostly concerning protections such as the 48-hour working week, entitlement to holiday and paid holidays, breaks during work, working conditions...

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Sep 03, 2022 6:41 pm

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sat Sep 03, 2022 3:47 pm Well who couldn't have guessed this was coming...

The article of course is paywalled, but the things hinted at are mostly concerning protections such as the 48-hour working week, entitlement to holiday and paid holidays, breaks during work, working conditions...

Truss isn't eyeing anything up. It's the dark money cunts that back her that are priapic for post-Brexit sovereignty, allowing them to feast on the NHS, sack off the Working Time Directive and TUPE, throw as many H&S regulations outside window as they can, plus the Net Zero Watch scum, and the avoidance of EU money laundering regs.

Truss is just another Johnson, a distraction machine to focus away from the vile shit going on behind the scenes, but without his animal cunning and utter belief in himself.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Sep 03, 2022 9:34 pm
The problem with Truss is she believes workers should have less rights. The problem for Truss is the electorate don't believe that. See also, windfall tax on oil producers.

She will lose an election if she takes away holiday rights and the new labour governments first act? Restoring those holiday rights.

Overall Labour lead by 4 points on 38% (-1 on a fortnight ago) while the Tories increased their vote share to 34% (+3) compared with mid-August.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 03, 2022 10:18 pm However, on polling for the next election.

Overall Labour lead by 4 points on 38% (-1 on a fortnight ago) while the Tories increased their vote share to 34% (+3) compared with mid-August.

With the worst prime minister in 50 years on the way out and a vacuous idiot on the way in, what does it say about Starmer and Labour that they don't have a 40+ point lead right now?

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 7:37 am Christ alive what a state we're in. Tweeter is Political Editor of the Sunday Times

_Os_ wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 8:51 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 03, 2022 10:18 pm However, on polling for the next election.

Overall Labour lead by 4 points on 38% (-1 on a fortnight ago) while the Tories increased their vote share to 34% (+3) compared with mid-August.

With the worst prime minister in 50 years on the way out and a vacuous idiot on the way in, what does it say about Starmer and Labour that they don't have a 40+ point lead right now?

At some point at least some responsibility and blame has to be apportioned to the voters, it can't all be only Labour's fault forever. Brown, Miliband, Corbyn, Starmer aren't all the same person with the same leadership team and policies, if only Labour is blamed then the reasons for Labour's failure over this time become contradictory.

_Os_ wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 8:51 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 03, 2022 10:18 pm However, on polling for the next election.

Overall Labour lead by 4 points on 38% (-1 on a fortnight ago) while the Tories increased their vote share to 34% (+3) compared with mid-August.

With the worst prime minister in 50 years on the way out and a vacuous idiot on the way in, what does it say about Starmer and Labour that they don't have a 40+ point lead right now?

At some point at least some responsibility and blame has to be apportioned to the voters, it can't all be only Labour's fault forever. Brown, Miliband, Corbyn, Starmer aren't all the same person with the same leadership team and policies, if only Labour is blamed then the reasons for Labour's failure over this time become contradictory.

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 7:37 am Christ alive what a state we're in. Tweeter is Political Editor of the Sunday Times

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 9:36 am Rich people benefiting more from her proposed tax cuts is 'fair' and nor will her plans lead to inflation since that's the BOEs problem.

At this rate, riots before xmas.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 10:09 am

He has done a great job here showing Kuenssburg and the rest of the chattering class as nodding dogs.

As an aside, Kuenssburg is paid a fortune and has nothing to worry about. Which is what it is - being Dominic Cummings twitter admin is a demanding job. However, would be powerful if any of these shows had someone on 30k asking the questions rather 300k because it means something to them.

petej wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:04 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 10:09 am

He has done a great job here showing Kuenssburg and the rest of the chattering class as nodding dogs.

As an aside, Kuenssburg is paid a fortune and has nothing to worry about. Which is what it is - being Dominic Cummings twitter admin is a demanding job. However, would be powerful if any of these shows had someone on 30k asking the questions rather 300k because it means something to them.

The political "journalist" and commentators are no better than football transfer journos. Football transfer gossip and political journalism is pretty similar. Kuenssburg should be paid at the level as the person who collates the BBC football transfer gossip.

It was noticeable during the pandemic that the standard of question when regional journalists were invited was much better and harder for Johnson than the soft shite from Peston and other nodding dogs.

petej wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:04 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 10:09 am

He has done a great job here showing Kuenssburg and the rest of the chattering class as nodding dogs.

As an aside, Kuenssburg is paid a fortune and has nothing to worry about. Which is what it is - being Dominic Cummings twitter admin is a demanding job. However, would be powerful if any of these shows had someone on 30k asking the questions rather 300k because it means something to them.

The political "journalist" and commentators are no better than football transfer journos. Football transfer gossip and political journalism is pretty similar. Kuenssburg should be paid at the level as the person who collates the BBC football transfer gossip.

It was noticeable during the pandemic that the standard of question when regional journalists were invited was much better and harder for Johnson than the soft shite from Peston and other nodding dogs.

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 9:36 am Rich people benefiting more from her proposed tax cuts is 'fair' and nor will her plans lead to inflation since that's the BOEs problem.

At this rate, riots before xmas.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:21 pm

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 9:36 am Rich people benefiting more from her proposed tax cuts is 'fair' and nor will her plans lead to inflation since that's the BOEs problem.

At this rate, riots before xmas.

Honestly? I kind of hope so. Our collective lack of will to 'go French' and actually express our displeasure beyond tutting and making jokes about shit politicians is no small part of why we've arrived at this point.

The Tories are a pack of cunts and will behave as such. It is up to the people to reign them in and sometimes that means reminding politicians that they should be scared of us. They occupy their positions on our sufferance so long as they more or less uphold the social contract. They have manifestly failed to do that, in the process clearly demonstrating that they could not give less of a fuck about anyone who isn't a donor or chum.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 4:14 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:21 pm

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 9:36 am Rich people benefiting more from her proposed tax cuts is 'fair' and nor will her plans lead to inflation since that's the BOEs problem.

At this rate, riots before xmas.

Honestly? I kind of hope so. Our collective lack of will to 'go French' and actually express our displeasure beyond tutting and making jokes about shit politicians is no small part of why we've arrived at this point.

The Tories are a pack of cunts and will behave as such. It is up to the people to reign them in and sometimes that means reminding politicians that they should be scared of us. They occupy their positions on our sufferance so long as they more or less uphold the social contract. They have manifestly failed to do that, in the process clearly demonstrating that they could not give less of a fuck about anyone who isn't a donor or chum.

Last time there were riots in this country Sir Keir decided on prison for everyone though. What's the judicial response in France? Most people probably think it isn't worth their time.

Not that the courts in this country function anymore so really the time is ripe.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 5:09 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 4:14 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:21 pm

Honestly? I kind of hope so. Our collective lack of will to 'go French' and actually express our displeasure beyond tutting and making jokes about shit politicians is no small part of why we've arrived at this point.

The Tories are a pack of cunts and will behave as such. It is up to the people to reign them in and sometimes that means reminding politicians that they should be scared of us. They occupy their positions on our sufferance so long as they more or less uphold the social contract. They have manifestly failed to do that, in the process clearly demonstrating that they could not give less of a fuck about anyone who isn't a donor or chum.

Last time there were riots in this country Sir Keir decided on prison for everyone though. What's the judicial response in France? Most people probably think it isn't worth their time.

Not that the courts in this country function anymore so really the time is ripe.

Àt least in prison the Tories would have to make sure they'd have adequate heat, & food, & health care, this winter.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 4:14 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:21 pm

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 9:36 am Rich people benefiting more from her proposed tax cuts is 'fair' and nor will her plans lead to inflation since that's the BOEs problem.

At this rate, riots before xmas.

Honestly? I kind of hope so. Our collective lack of will to 'go French' and actually express our displeasure beyond tutting and making jokes about shit politicians is no small part of why we've arrived at this point.

The Tories are a pack of cunts and will behave as such. It is up to the people to reign them in and sometimes that means reminding politicians that they should be scared of us. They occupy their positions on our sufferance so long as they more or less uphold the social contract. They have manifestly failed to do that, in the process clearly demonstrating that they could not give less of a fuck about anyone who isn't a donor or chum.

Last time there were riots in this country Sir Keir decided on prison for everyone though. What's the judicial response in France? Most people probably think it isn't worth their time.

Not that the courts in this country function anymore so really the time is ripe.

C69 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 9:50 pm Truss as PM ffs, let that sink in.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 5:09 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 4:14 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:21 pm

Honestly? I kind of hope so. Our collective lack of will to 'go French' and actually express our displeasure beyond tutting and making jokes about shit politicians is no small part of why we've arrived at this point.

The Tories are a pack of cunts and will behave as such. It is up to the people to reign them in and sometimes that means reminding politicians that they should be scared of us. They occupy their positions on our sufferance so long as they more or less uphold the social contract. They have manifestly failed to do that, in the process clearly demonstrating that they could not give less of a fuck about anyone who isn't a donor or chum.

Last time there were riots in this country Sir Keir decided on prison for everyone though. What's the judicial response in France? Most people probably think it isn't worth their time.

Not that the courts in this country function anymore so really the time is ripe.

Àt least in prison the Tories would have to make sure they'd have adequate heat, & food, & health care, this winter.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 7:18 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 4:14 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:21 pm

Honestly? I kind of hope so. Our collective lack of will to 'go French' and actually express our displeasure beyond tutting and making jokes about shit politicians is no small part of why we've arrived at this point.

The Tories are a pack of cunts and will behave as such. It is up to the people to reign them in and sometimes that means reminding politicians that they should be scared of us. They occupy their positions on our sufferance so long as they more or less uphold the social contract. They have manifestly failed to do that, in the process clearly demonstrating that they could not give less of a fuck about anyone who isn't a donor or chum.

Last time there were riots in this country Sir Keir decided on prison for everyone though. What's the judicial response in France? Most people probably think it isn't worth their time.

Not that the courts in this country function anymore so really the time is ripe.

When I was younger I'd go on marches and demos, they were generally peaceful, but the miners' strike was different.
I know a guy who threw a stone at a window of an empty mobile tea hut at a pit just outside Edinburgh. That footage was shown on the BBC six o'clock news. It was edited so that the stone appeared to hit a police officer at a pit in Yorkshire.
If he had that sort of arm on him he should have been in the Olympics.

Anyway, I've also been inadvertently caught in a demo when things went a wee bit ugly. I had my then 7 year old daughter with me (I wasn't on the march, I was just accidentally in the wrong place) and turned a corner to see EDL people smashing windows of cafes and shops. Mounted police were riding into the crowds and anarchists were throwing stones at the EDL and at the police.
I got my daughter out of there immediately.

No one wants full on riots, but recent government legislation is outlawing peaceful protest so that it will be dealt with in the same way riots are.

As far as I remember Starmer wanted to stop rioting, not to prevent protest. He spoke up against Johnson's idiotic and dangerous claims of rioting if his will on illegally proroguing parliament was opposed.
Starmer is not the villain here.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 6:40 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 7:18 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 4:14 pm

Last time there were riots in this country Sir Keir decided on prison for everyone though. What's the judicial response in France? Most people probably think it isn't worth their time.

Not that the courts in this country function anymore so really the time is ripe.

When I was younger I'd go on marches and demos, they were generally peaceful, but the miners' strike was different.
I know a guy who threw a stone at a window of an empty mobile tea hut at a pit just outside Edinburgh. That footage was shown on the BBC six o'clock news. It was edited so that the stone appeared to hit a police officer at a pit in Yorkshire.
If he had that sort of arm on him he should have been in the Olympics.

Anyway, I've also been inadvertently caught in a demo when things went a wee bit ugly. I had my then 7 year old daughter with me (I wasn't on the march, I was just accidentally in the wrong place) and turned a corner to see EDL people smashing windows of cafes and shops. Mounted police were riding into the crowds and anarchists were throwing stones at the EDL and at the police.
I got my daughter out of there immediately.

No one wants full on riots, but recent government legislation is outlawing peaceful protest so that it will be dealt with in the same way riots are.

As far as I remember Starmer wanted to stop rioting, not to prevent protest. He spoke up against Johnson's idiotic and dangerous claims of rioting if his will on illegally proroguing parliament was opposed.
Starmer is not the villain here.

We weren't talking about protests though, we were talking about riots. And Starmer's response as Head of DPP was very harsh. I.e. a student with no priors getting the maximum sentence for nicking a bottle of water.

I imagine if you compare the French states reaction to rioting and the UKs you'd see why we don't do it so often.

Jacques Pezet, fact-checking Journalist for the CheckNews division of Liberation had, as of the 30th of January counted 144 verifiable cases of gilets jaunes and journalists severely injured by the riot police. At least 14 victims have lost an eye and 92 of the 144 have been shot by flashballs. Flashballs are rubber bullets fired from a tube like weapon with the stopping power of a .38 calibre handgun. At close range, as the French CRS (riot police) have used them, they can be particularly damaging.

At Camberwell Green magistrates, Nicholas Robinson, 23, an electrical engineering student with no previous convictions, was jailed for the maximum permitted six months after pleading guilty to stealing bottles of water worth £3.50 from Lidl in Brixton. He had been walking back from his girlfriend's house in the early hours of Monday morning when he saw the store being looted, his lawyer said, and had taken the opportunity to go in and help himself to a case of water because he was thirsty. He was caught up in the moment, and was ashamed of his actions, his defence said.

But the prosecution told judge Alan Baldwin: "This defendant has contributed through his action to criminal activities to the atmosphere of chaos and sheer lawlessness." There were gasps from the public gallery as his sentence was delivered.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 8:20 am

Congratulations to Keir Starmer for winning the support of Nigel Farage. The type of guy the Labour movement needs onside.

SaintK wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:41 am The latest "worst" PM ever

Liz Truss: 81,326

Rishi Sunak: 60,399

Electorate: 172,437

Turnout: 82.6%

Rejected ballot papers: 654

petej wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:46 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:41 am The latest "worst" PM ever

Liz Truss: 81,326

Rishi Sunak: 60,399

Electorate: 172,437

Turnout: 82.6%

Rejected ballot papers: 654

Closer than I thought it would be.