Politics Thread 7: Dishy Rishi's Cabinet of Horrors

[Lagamorph]

We've got the Tees Valley Combined Authority mayoral election coming up soon. The current mayer Ben Houchen is a Conservative and has overseen the grossly mismanaged and corrupt Teesworks project. Labour have already pledged to send in the National Audit Office at the General Election level.

The election guide only lists Labour, Tory and Lib Dem candidates.
Labour candidate is pledging to introduce free town centre parking and a £2 cap on bus and train fares and bringing buses under public control, whilst making public transport for under 18s free. Also some stuff about a "Guaranteed Skills and Employment Review" (whatever that means) for everyone at 16, 24 and 50.

Lib Dems are campaigning on a £25million investment in fighting Child poverty, alongside some more vague pledges surrounding bus fare caps, though no mention of public ownership or train fares.

I used to work in the area, the free parking was in place until very recently. Makes a massive difference as £2 minimum charge for parking in a genuinely grim seaside town is enough to make everyone park in the side streets or just park at Morrisona for 2 hours instead.

The council (currently about 8 million short) has also brought back parking charges for staff at council buildings, which amounts to a pay cut.

The Teesworks scandal is going to be huge when it eventually pops, the promise of all the money it was going to make was always an empty promise. Private Eye and News night has covered it a bit, but it's going to be very interesting when the truth comes out about the sale of the land and the lack of return on investment.

From that description I can tell you were working in Redcar.

Try living here

[Godzilla]

We've got the Tees Valley Combined Authority mayoral election coming up soon. The current mayer Ben Houchen is a Conservative and has overseen the grossly mismanaged and corrupt Teesworks project. Labour have already pledged to send in the National Audit Office at the General Election level.

The election guide only lists Labour, Tory and Lib Dem candidates.
Labour candidate is pledging to introduce free town centre parking and a £2 cap on bus and train fares and bringing buses under public control, whilst making public transport for under 18s free. Also some stuff about a "Guaranteed Skills and Employment Review" (whatever that means) for everyone at 16, 24 and 50.

Lib Dems are campaigning on a £25million investment in fighting Child poverty, alongside some more vague pledges surrounding bus fare caps, though no mention of public ownership or train fares.

I used to work in the area, the free parking was in place until very recently. Makes a massive difference as £2 minimum charge for parking in a genuinely grim seaside town is enough to make everyone park in the side streets or just park at Morrisona for 2 hours instead.

The council (currently about 8 million short) has also brought back parking charges for staff at council buildings, which amounts to a pay cut.

The Teesworks scandal is going to be huge when it eventually pops, the promise of all the money it was going to make was always an empty promise. Private Eye and News night has covered it a bit, but it's going to be very interesting when the truth comes out about the sale of the land and the lack of return on investment.

From that description I can tell you were working in Redcar.

Try living here

Worked there for over 2 years, only recently left and moved to London. I was close to living in Redcar as it's very affordable but I wanted a big change so moved away.

I do miss the bargains and the ice cream shops.

[Lagamorph]

We've got the Tees Valley Combined Authority mayoral election coming up soon. The current mayer Ben Houchen is a Conservative and has overseen the grossly mismanaged and corrupt Teesworks project. Labour have already pledged to send in the National Audit Office at the General Election level.

The election guide only lists Labour, Tory and Lib Dem candidates.
Labour candidate is pledging to introduce free town centre parking and a £2 cap on bus and train fares and bringing buses under public control, whilst making public transport for under 18s free. Also some stuff about a "Guaranteed Skills and Employment Review" (whatever that means) for everyone at 16, 24 and 50.

Lib Dems are campaigning on a £25million investment in fighting Child poverty, alongside some more vague pledges surrounding bus fare caps, though no mention of public ownership or train fares.

I used to work in the area, the free parking was in place until very recently. Makes a massive difference as £2 minimum charge for parking in a genuinely grim seaside town is enough to make everyone park in the side streets or just park at Morrisona for 2 hours instead.

The council (currently about 8 million short) has also brought back parking charges for staff at council buildings, which amounts to a pay cut.

The Teesworks scandal is going to be huge when it eventually pops, the promise of all the money it was going to make was always an empty promise. Private Eye and News night has covered it a bit, but it's going to be very interesting when the truth comes out about the sale of the land and the lack of return on investment.

From that description I can tell you were working in Redcar.

Try living here

Worked there for over 2 years, only recently left and moved to London. I was close to living in Redcar as it's very affordable but I wanted a big change so moved away.

I do miss the bargains and the ice cream shops.

Pacitto Lemon Top is still god tier of Ice Cream

[Garth]

Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife are in court today:

More details of the claims have emerged on charge sheets published on the court service website this morning.

The rape charge alleges that Donaldson, on a date unknown between January 1 1985 and January 1 1991, "had unlawful sexual intercourse” with the alleged victim “who at the time of the said intercourse did not consent to it”.

Another charge alleges Donaldson “committed an act of gross indecency towards a child” on a date between January 1 2005 and December 31 2006.

There are nine allegations of indecent assault - allegedly committed on dates spanning a period from January 1 1985 to January 1 2006.

Eleanor Donaldson is charged with aiding and abetting additional offences, again related to two complainants.

There are two counts of cruelty, while Eleanor Donaldson is also accused of aiding and abetting rape, and aiding and abetting indecent assault.

The four allegations facing Eleanor Donaldson span dates from January 1985 to December 2004.

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/c ... 35582.html

[Lex-Man]

twitter.com/itvpeston/status/1783013502057078845

[Lagamorph]

So despite teetering on the verge of bankruptcy Thames Water have announced that they intend to pay out £2billion to shareholders over the next 10 years, with payouts of up to £290million per year.

It also continues to ask Ofwat to allow it to increase the average household bill to £627 (currently £433)

[poshrule_uk]

Shareholders
Customer's supporting honest hardworking shareholders

[Moggy]

So despite teetering on the verge of bankruptcy Thames Water have announced that they intend to pay out £2billion to shareholders over the next 10 years, with payouts of up to £290million per year.

It also continues to ask Ofwat to allow it to increase the average household bill to £627 (currently £433)

Thank god the socialist communists won't win!!!! We'd have no investment if those godless heathens forced vital public services into public ownership!!!!!!

[Moggy]

[rinks]

So despite teetering on the verge of bankruptcy Thames Water have announced that they intend to pay out £2billion to shareholders over the next 10 years, with payouts of up to £290million per year.

It also continues to ask Ofwat to allow it to increase the average household bill to £627 (currently £433)

This is baiting. I reckon they want the government to take it over now. They walk away, and the taxpayers clear all the debts and pay for the infrastructure. Two parliaments later, Tories get back in and hand it back to the privateers.

[satriales]

Labour announcing that they will re-nationalise rail within 5 years by taking over contracts as they expire. Seems sensible. Here's hoping they have more policies like that up their sleeve going into the election.

If they had announced it a year ago, the conservatives probably would have just extended all of the contracts so they can't do it.

[Garth]

twitter.com/PippaCrerar/status/1783410276726940081

[Garth]

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater has just confirmed the end of the Bute House agreement and accused the SNP of "selling out future generations".

She said: "This is an act of political cowardice by the SNP, who are selling out future generations to appease the most reactionary forces in the country.

"They have broken the bonds of trust with members of both parties who have twice chosen the co-operation agreement and climate action over chaos, culture wars and division. They have betrayed the electorate."

She said that the first minister ended the agreement in "such a weak and thoroughly hopeless way" which "signalled that when it comes to political co-operation, he can no longer be trusted."

In a lengthy statement marking the end of the power-sharing agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens, Lorna Slater goes on to say that the Scottish Greens were due to vote on the co-operation agreement in the coming weeks.

However, she says they will no longer have the opportunity because of "the most reactionary and backwards-looking forces within the First Minister's party" which "forced him to do the opposite of what he himself had said was in Scotland's best interests".

She adds: "If they can't stand up to members of their own party, how can anyone expect them to stand up to the UK government at Westminster and defend the interests of Scotland?"

Slater says the Scottish Greens were "let down by the SNP time and time again" on a variety of issues including oil and gas targets and council tax.

She ends the statement by urging SNP members who cared about the climate, trans rights and independence to consider whether they were in the right party.

"He now looks set to give his party what they rejected. We expect to see a raft of progressive policies watered down or ditched altogether."

Lorna Slater says she is "deeply proud of what we delivered in government" over the past two-and-a-half years.

She says the Scottish Greens had plans for a new national park, rent controls and a ban on conversion therapy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz5dy15grjnt

[jimbojango]

twitter.com/PippaCrerar/status/1783410276726940081

I think they really underestimated how much public support there is for the transition away from fossil fuels up here. There are many companies pressing ahead with technology, offshore wind is a fine fit for the former offshore oil skill set. The population is small and mostly centralised, there is generally a high degree of environmental awareness, what better conditions do you need?
Yet they dropped the targets and have defunded all the major projects for at least the next 2 years. Another zombie government that will limp on causing damage.

[Garth]

twitter.com/UKLabour/status/1783425246516613306

twitter.com/RMTunion/status/1783248554674344390

[Garth]

Humza Yousaf explains the co-operation with the Scottish Greens lasted for nearly three years and the Bute House agreement has "undoubtedly brought a number of successes".

"I believe the benefits have outweighed the compromises." The first minister says when he said the agreement was "worth its weight in gold" he meant it.

"However it is now my judgement that the balance has shifted." He says it has served its purpose and after "careful consideration I believe it is in the best interests of the people of Scotland to pursue a different arrangement".

"I have formally notified Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater that I am terminating the Bute House agreement with immediate effect," says the first minister.

The first minister tells the media how the SNP needs the freedom and flexibility to "move Scotland forward", adding: "We need to speak to the country with one voice - our voice".

He says today marks a "new beginning" for the SNP government, which includes plans to tackle child poverty, stand up for minorities, help the country during the cost of living crisis, and tackle the climate crisis.

"During my first year of leadership, I hope I have demonstrated to you that I am fighting to change Scotland for the better," he says.

"I am working tirelessly to build a strong, sustainable economy that works for everyone, to strengthen our NHS and other public services, to build a country in which everyone feels accepted and able to reach their potential, and to do what I can in my own way to create a more peaceful world."

Yousaf confirms he will lead a minority government, accepting it will be "tough".

The first minister concludes his statement with a direct message to the people of Scotland.

He says he is "fighting to change Scotland for the better".

"As your first minister I will always put Scotland first."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz5dy15grjnt

[Moggy]

"EVEN CHOCOLATE IS WOKE! I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!"

[Tomous]

Woke has lost all meaning

[Met]

I feel it lost its meaning years ago when it got coopted to mean "anything I don't like"

[Moggy]

It's just the "PC gone mad"/"health and safety gone mad" stuff with a different name.