NPR

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:05 am Little Miss Vanity off on her travels again.............I wonder who's paying?

Liz Truss, the former prime minister, is to visit Taiwan next week, where she will deliver a speech likely to anger Beijing and potentially upset the UK government’s careful approach to China relations.
Speaking ahead of her visit, she said:

Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy. I’m looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.

The former Tory leader’s office said today that she is also expected to meet senior members of the Taiwanese government.

However, the trip comes after a warning by the foreign secretary James Cleverly that Britain should not “pull the shutters down” on China, as it would be counterproductive to the national interest

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 1:15 pm Just seen a description of Truss as causing as much chaos as a roomba that's driven through dogshit.

dpedin wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:17 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 9:42 am From FT analysis:

"Britain’s privatised water and sewage companies paid £1.4bn in dividends in 2022, up from £540mn the previous year, despite rising household bills and a wave of public criticism over sewage outflows."

What a total failure Thatcher's privatisations have been. Oil wealth, housing, water. Sold the family china and the kids inheritance for the illusion of wealth.

England, one of the few, if not the only, country in the world to privatise water and sewage systems. Water and sewage should be seen as a public health priority not as a vehicle for private sector making a profit. Since the days of John Snow and Cholera in the 1850's in London everyone knows a healthy water supply and safe sewage systems was a critical part of sustaining a healthy population, selling it off for profit, which mainly go to overseas corporations/Govs, has been a fecking disaster not just economically but for public health. It will be the death of the Tory Party.

dpedin wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:17 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 9:42 am From FT analysis:

"Britain’s privatised water and sewage companies paid £1.4bn in dividends in 2022, up from £540mn the previous year, despite rising household bills and a wave of public criticism over sewage outflows."

What a total failure Thatcher's privatisations have been. Oil wealth, housing, water. Sold the family china and the kids inheritance for the illusion of wealth.

England, one of the few, if not the only, country in the world to privatise water and sewage systems. Water and sewage should be seen as a public health priority not as a vehicle for private sector making a profit. Since the days of John Snow and Cholera in the 1850's in London everyone knows a healthy water supply and safe sewage systems was a critical part of sustaining a healthy population, selling it off for profit, which mainly go to overseas corporations/Govs, has been a fecking disaster not just economically but for public health. It will be the death of the Tory Party.

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 11:25 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:05 am Little Miss Vanity off on her travels again.............I wonder who's paying?

Liz Truss, the former prime minister, is to visit Taiwan next week, where she will deliver a speech likely to anger Beijing and potentially upset the UK government’s careful approach to China relations.
Speaking ahead of her visit, she said:

Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy. I’m looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.

The former Tory leader’s office said today that she is also expected to meet senior members of the Taiwanese government.

However, the trip comes after a warning by the foreign secretary James Cleverly that Britain should not “pull the shutters down” on China, as it would be counterproductive to the national interest

Well Beijing will have plenty of material with which to lambast and discredit the loon

shaggy wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 6:29 pm

dpedin wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:17 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 9:42 am From FT analysis:

"Britain’s privatised water and sewage companies paid £1.4bn in dividends in 2022, up from £540mn the previous year, despite rising household bills and a wave of public criticism over sewage outflows."

What a total failure Thatcher's privatisations have been. Oil wealth, housing, water. Sold the family china and the kids inheritance for the illusion of wealth.

England, one of the few, if not the only, country in the world to privatise water and sewage systems. Water and sewage should be seen as a public health priority not as a vehicle for private sector making a profit. Since the days of John Snow and Cholera in the 1850's in London everyone knows a healthy water supply and safe sewage systems was a critical part of sustaining a healthy population, selling it off for profit, which mainly go to overseas corporations/Govs, has been a fecking disaster not just economically but for public health. It will be the death of the Tory Party.

Not exactly a new concept though, the water system was built and operated by private companies for centuries and only nationalised about a hundred years ago. A return to its natural state?

petej wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 7:21 pm

shaggy wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 6:29 pm

dpedin wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:17 am

England, one of the few, if not the only, country in the world to privatise water and sewage systems. Water and sewage should be seen as a public health priority not as a vehicle for private sector making a profit. Since the days of John Snow and Cholera in the 1850's in London everyone knows a healthy water supply and safe sewage systems was a critical part of sustaining a healthy population, selling it off for profit, which mainly go to overseas corporations/Govs, has been a fecking disaster not just economically but for public health. It will be the death of the Tory Party.

Not exactly a new concept though, the water system was built and operated by private companies for centuries and only nationalised about a hundred years ago. A return to its natural state?

For centuries you say. So that would be the centuries while people died from cholera and other water based nasties and rivers were open sewers. Dumping shit in rivers at least is consistent with the private operating model then. Looking at London the "modern or proper" sewage system was very much publicly funded.

C69 wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 7:50 pm

petej wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 7:21 pm

shaggy wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 6:29 pm

Not exactly a new concept though, the water system was built and operated by private companies for centuries and only nationalised about a hundred years ago. A return to its natural state?

For centuries you say. So that would be the centuries while people died from cholera and other water based nasties and rivers were open sewers. Dumping shit in rivers at least is consistent with the private operating model then. Looking at London the "modern or proper" sewage system was very much publicly funded.

Shaggy just got err shagged dry prison style

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 4:28 pm The replies seem to doubt his veracity.

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 4:28 pm The replies seem to doubt his veracity.

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 4:07 pm This is a major scandal waiting to happen.
Every time Tory blue eyed boy Houchen opens his mouth he finds himself drawing more interest into the finances and profits being made by his mates and their kids.
Private Eye have been on it for a couple of years and every edition brings new and very dodgy information

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 4:37 pm No peerage for him.

Aren't those freeport wankers the ones who were told it's not a good idea to dredge the silt from the river as it contained decades worth of toxic shit from heavy industries, did it anyway, dumped it at sea and caused a mass die off of crabs etc.?

SaintK wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 4:47 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 4:37 pm No peerage for him.

Aren't those freeport wankers the ones who were told it's not a good idea to dredge the silt from the river as it contained decades worth of toxic shit from heavy industries, did it anyway, dumped it at sea and caused a mass die off of crabs etc.?

Yes according to some experts and all the local fisherman and related businesses who have lost their livelihoods. But no according to Coffey who is refusing to open another, wider investigation or even visit to meet with the locals

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 4:55 pm Hmm from memory it's really not that straightforward and it's really unclear what the hell happened to the crabs...

shaggy wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 6:34 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 4:55 pm Hmm from memory it's really not that straightforward and it's really unclear what the hell happened to the crabs...

Agreed. The investigation carried out was inconclusive but they did confirm that the dredged material was not toxic as stated by numerous parties.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 8:18 pm

shaggy wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 6:34 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 4:55 pm Hmm from memory it's really not that straightforward and it's really unclear what the hell happened to the crabs...

Agreed. The investigation carried out was inconclusive but they did confirm that the dredged material was not toxic as stated by numerous parties.

Doesn't matter.

If you bury the existing washed surface under feet of rock, & soil you destroy an ecology that's been generated by thousands of tides, & it'll take years before thousands more tides recreate that ecology.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 8:22 pm

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 8:18 pm

shaggy wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 6:34 pm

Agreed. The investigation carried out was inconclusive but they did confirm that the dredged material was not toxic as stated by numerous parties.

Doesn't matter.

If you bury the existing washed surface under feet of rock, & soil you destroy an ecology that's been generated by thousands of tides, & it'll take years before thousands more tides recreate that ecology.

I don't think that makes any sense. That's not the argument being made, and your argument essentially dictates no dredging of major rivers ever. More importantly, the dredging was at the river mouth, but it was the colonies along the coastline that saw the die-offs. The "ecology" of the river mouth was never really a concern.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 8:34 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 8:22 pm

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu May 11, 2023 8:18 pm

Doesn't matter.

If you bury the existing washed surface under feet of rock, & soil you destroy an ecology that's been generated by thousands of tides, & it'll take years before thousands more tides recreate that ecology.

I don't think that makes any sense. That's not the argument being made, and your argument essentially dictates no dredging of major rivers ever. More importantly, the dredging was at the river mouth, but it was the colonies along the coastline that saw the die-offs. The "ecology" of the river mouth was never really a concern.

Well yeah, if you're going to dredge, your going to have an impact; & it'll depend on the currents & where they dredge, & where they dump the material they dredge where that happens, & in this case, the reason they had to dredge was its been years since the inlet actually was maintained, & surprise surprise, the crabs returned, & the local fishermen had been able to set pots there & make a living.

Now they want to re-open & dredge the channel, so the damage should be something that any environmental impact statement for the works would highlight, & the fishermen would express their concerns & request changes or look for some compensation for their loss of earnings, or whatever, because they now have to spend more on fuel to go to some other crab beds ?

This is exactly the process required here for putting in the footings for offshore turbines, I don't know why it should be different at the shoreline, than five miles out ?

I like neeps wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 7:52 am

This is quite funny but when she says 56m of investment she means 56m that will be an increase on our bills for a service we have no other provider for and when the choice motive has been removed from capitalism it doesn't work anymore as your profit is guaranteed and you have no motive to improve. You need competition!

I'd love to have the choice of price gauge water, sh*te in your river water, or we now have an incentive not to price gouge l or allow sh*t in rivers as now we have to invest in infrastructure water.

dpedin wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 9:17 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 7:52 am

This is quite funny but when she says 56m of investment she means 56m that will be an increase on our bills for a service we have no other provider for and when the choice motive has been removed from capitalism it doesn't work anymore as your profit is guaranteed and you have no motive to improve. You need competition!

I'd love to have the choice of price gauge water, sh*te in your river water, or we now have an incentive not to price gouge l or allow sh*t in rivers as now we have to invest in infrastructure water.

Whately was just plain terrible but allowed to spout shite by Bruce. The labour spokesman at least came clean on the question re denationalisation of the water industry - the Lab Gov won't be able to afford it! They need to go same route as with rail franchises and regulated and fine the arse of these water companies who will then hopefully cry wolf and walk away from the industry. The Tories have a lot to answer for by nationalising all these essential industries and turning them into cash machines for their mates.

dpedin wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 9:17 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 7:52 am

This is quite funny but when she says 56m of investment she means 56m that will be an increase on our bills for a service we have no other provider for and when the choice motive has been removed from capitalism it doesn't work anymore as your profit is guaranteed and you have no motive to improve. You need competition!

I'd love to have the choice of price gauge water, sh*te in your river water, or we now have an incentive not to price gouge l or allow sh*t in rivers as now we have to invest in infrastructure water.

Whately was just plain terrible but allowed to spout shite by Bruce. The labour spokesman at least came clean on the question re denationalisation of the water industry - the Lab Gov won't be able to afford it! They need to go same route as with rail franchises and regulated and fine the arse of these water companies who will then hopefully cry wolf and walk away from the industry. The Tories have a lot to answer for by nationalising all these essential industries and turning them into cash machines for their mates.

dpedin wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 9:17 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 7:52 am

This is quite funny but when she says 56m of investment she means 56m that will be an increase on our bills for a service we have no other provider for and when the choice motive has been removed from capitalism it doesn't work anymore as your profit is guaranteed and you have no motive to improve. You need competition!

I'd love to have the choice of price gauge water, sh*te in your river water, or we now have an incentive not to price gouge l or allow sh*t in rivers as now we have to invest in infrastructure water.

Whately was just plain terrible but allowed to spout shite by Bruce. The labour spokesman at least came clean on the question re denationalisation of the water industry - the Lab Gov won't be able to afford it! They need to go same route as with rail franchises and regulated and fine the arse of these water companies who will then hopefully cry wolf and walk away from the industry. The Tories have a lot to answer for by nationalising all these essential industries and turning them into cash machines for their mates.

More than 800 uncounted postal votes have been found following last week's local elections in North Lincolnshire.

A total of 864 votes for the election in the Broughton and Scawby ward had been found, but only after the result had been declared, the council said.

The law does not allow votes to be counted following a declaration.

It was a "genuine mistake" and the election outcome in that ward had been referred to the Electoral Commission, North Lincolnshire Council said.

Two Conservatives were elected in the ward following the election on 4 May, with around 525 votes each.

Labour came second with their two candidates gaining 367 and 355 votes.

Following the election, the Conservatives held North Lincolnshire Council, securing 27 seats, while Labour won the remaining 16.

Peter Thorpe, the authority's returning officer, said it was "not an acceptable situation" to have uncounted votes.

"Candidates, agents and their wider teams work hard for people's votes and the residents of Broughton and Scawby ward should expect their votes to be counted as they intended," he said.

"I am sorry this did not happen. We do know this was a genuine mistake.

"We are working closely with the Electoral Commission to strengthen procedures and ensure all lessons are learned."

North Lincolnshire Council said it had informed all the candidates and told them the options.

Those options included issuing a complaint to the Election Petitions Office or making an application to the County Court under election law, it said.

petej wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 2:36 pm

dpedin wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 9:17 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 7:52 am

This is quite funny but when she says 56m of investment she means 56m that will be an increase on our bills for a service we have no other provider for and when the choice motive has been removed from capitalism it doesn't work anymore as your profit is guaranteed and you have no motive to improve. You need competition!

I'd love to have the choice of price gauge water, sh*te in your river water, or we now have an incentive not to price gouge l or allow sh*t in rivers as now we have to invest in infrastructure water.

Whately was just plain terrible but allowed to spout shite by Bruce. The labour spokesman at least came clean on the question re denationalisation of the water industry - the Lab Gov won't be able to afford it! They need to go same route as with rail franchises and regulated and fine the arse of these water companies who will then hopefully cry wolf and walk away from the industry. The Tories have a lot to answer for by nationalising all these essential industries and turning them into cash machines for their mates.

Scottish Water is scottish government owned and Dŵr Cymru is a not for profit. Dŵr Cymru has cleared a lot of debt it started with and ranks above most of the other water companies both in environmental performance and in financial performance (reducing debt instead of accumulating it).

Line6 HXFX wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 11:16 pm
How can we hate David Cameron 2.0... the bloke loves huskies..is tolerant, cares about the environment, he used the NHS once..

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel will blame "those in power and control" of the Conservative Party for their heavy local election losses in a speech later.
Ms Patel will say "errors and mistakes made by a minority in Westminster have cost [the] party dearly".
She will be among several high-profile Tory MPs speaking to the Conservative Democratic Organisation, a new grassroots pro-Boris Johnson group.