simonvirr.bsky.social

Should probably be a mix. Some uk-only, certainly some in cooperation with EU nations, but also working with other non-US allies. Completely self contained tech within a single country is probably unrealistic. Contained within a single group of countries probably too risky.

What will that do to the Common Travel Area agreements?

Is that 96% of visas? Or 96% of sponsors having their licences revoked?

Either way those are astonishingly high! Any idea of causes?

there's a nugget here which helps to explain Brown's character and why he was so incensed by the allegations against Mandelson from their time in office

But ending up as Regent is slightly more plausible.

Although I think that if, God forbid, William and Harry both died then he'd be Regent until George gets to 18.

(Not an expert; might be wrong)

And the weird pub-bakery combo.

And can you imagine how much more divisive than even Brexit it would be?

Trump’s endless flip-flopping on the Chagos Islands shows why Starmer’s approach is doomed to fail.

Britain can’t rely on the US while Trump is in the White House. It’s time to strengthen our ties with allies we can depend on, starting with our neighbours in Europe.

If we thought Brexit was divisive and complicated...

Reform is going to stop being keen on repealing the equalities act when they realise it will allow employers to stop employing Reform supporters and businesses to refuse to serve them. And positive discrimination will be legal.

Almost as if they don't think these things through.

its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further

and you won't be able to see that that's what's happening.

the park should not be full of broken glass.
you can't just ban children from the play area and call the problem solved.
1) they now have no play area
2) everyone else is still getting cut to ribbons

Or they're perfectly aware but don't feel the need to articulate them.

Any state visits by the Pope would become *very* awkward.

"Hello, your holiness. No, don't mention God".

[Scene is KEIR STARMER as FATHER CHRISTMAS in his factory, with RACHEL REEVES as an awkward-looking Head Elf] 1 FATHER KEIR: Well, well, well! [Elf Reeves is holding an enormous sack of letters] 2 FATHER KEIR: Look at all these letters of membership cancellation! ELF REEVES: More than ever this year 3 [Father Keir reads one out:] “Dear Father Keir I am writing to cancel my Labour Party membership…” Awww how sweet 4 “I have truly believed for 40 years, but now I’ve had enough.” 5 “Please please please this year can you deliver some policies that aren’t craven right wing bullshit?” 6 FATHER KEIR: Well, I think we know what to give this good boy don’t we? Elf Mahmood! 7 [Show SHABANA MAHMOOD as an elf poking her head round a doorway to afactory full of busy elves, above the door is a wooden sign reading CRAVEN RIGHTWING BULLSHIT FACTORY] ELF MAHMOOD: What. 8 FATHER KEIR: Do we have any performatively cruel immigration stuff left? 9 ELF MAHMOOD: We've got ‘stealing their belongings and a 20-year wait for settled status’…? 10 FATHER KEIR: In the sack, please! [Elves Mahmood and Reeves push the big sack into the sleigh as father Keir climbs in the driver’s seat] 11 And off we goooo! [He wooshes off into the snowy polar night] 12 [Cut to a person’s LIVING ROOM - a man and a woman are looking in their stockings - the man looks disappointed] WOMAN: Is it not what you wanted MAN: Not really, no [Ends]

Forgot to post this one

Most MPs are honest, hard-working and clean as anything. Dragging Parliament through the dirt hurts everyone, especially the weakest in our society. Next time you wonder why governing has got harder, this type of a debacle is one reason.

The Labour Party has one mission: to stop the calamity of Reform UK, which in normal times would never get near power, entering govt. We've seen how that goes in the US, and the working class voters Labour seeks to represent would be hurt the most. If they can't even manage that they're a disgrace.

Reminds me not a little of lamb flavoured crisps which included "lamb powder" in the ingredients. Incredibly off-putting.

Surely what the article calls "former peers" (inc former hereditaries) *are still* peers, just not entitled to a writ of summons to the HoL.

Many, many days have 0 arrivals. But there are surges: 317, 138 and 275 on 17, 18 and 19 Jan. Small numbers in terms of UK population but would have been headline worthy if Trump weren't keeping the headlines flowing single handedly.

UK loses measles elimination status, warns WHO Vaccination rates in 2024-25 among five-year-olds who had received both MMR jabs hit the lowest level in 15 years.

Arguably more significant than defections, internal party politics and the Beckhams…

In 2024 there were around 3,600 suspected cases of measles.

We need to challenge the nonsense spread by anti vaxxers and ensure children are protected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

news.sky.com/story/uk-los...

Even Farage wouldn't... Surely?

Unless he doesn't actually *want* to be PM but rather likes earning the cash...

Rumours circulating around Westminster that the next Reform defections could be Davros, Skeletor, Saruman the White, and Mark Francois.

...but not to the sort of person who might switch their vote from the Tories to Reform, I guess.

Detoxifies the Tories though... What's left of them.

I hear and understand the argument that defections from the Tories benefit Reform and harm the Tories. But... all the defectors are *so* unpalatable.

Of course - tactical voting can't be one way. Well - shouldn't be, anyway!

Depends on the ward/constituency

Has no one in the PQ spent a single second talking to people in the UK about Brexit? There are people there who can speak French.