Gary's Soapbox

Friday, 22 February 2019

Source Fact Check

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/factcheck

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/full-fact-uk

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/financial-times

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/hoax-slayer

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/politico

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/reuters

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/snopes

Tony Foulds amazing story of honor and dedication

10 US servicemen died when their bomber a B-17 flying fortress named Mi Amigo crashed in Endcliffe park in Sheffield, 22nd February 1944, 75 years ago.

Tony Foulds and other children were in the park at the time apparently because boys from two rival schools were fighting. Tony believes the pilot could have landed on the green but chose not to because of the danger to the children, Tony was 8 at the time.

A memorial was build in 1969 and Tony has tended the memorial ever since. He always dreamed of a fly past to honor those who he believes saved his life. Today he got his wish after a chance meeting with BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker.

All I can say is respect to the aircrew and respect to you sir Tony Foulds for your dedication. You deserved your day.

The 10 men killed in the crash were:
Pilot Lt John Kriegshauser, pilot from Missouri
2nd Lt Lyle Curtis, co-pilot from Idaho
2nd Lt John Humphrey, navigator from Illinois
Melchor Hernandez, bombardier from California

Robert Mayfield, radio operator from Illinois

Vito Ambrosio, waist gunner from New York
Harry Estabrooks, flight engineer and top turret gunner from Kansas

Malcolm Williams, waist gunner from Oklahoma
Charles Tuttle, Ball turret gunner from Kentucky
Maurice Robbins, rear gunner from Texas

Tony got his dream

A big crowd paid their respects

LINKS

Washingtonpost: Flypast honors US bomber crew who died saving British kids

BBC: Sheffield bomber crash: Flypast on 75th anniversary

BBC: Mi Amigo Flying Fortress airmen remembered in Sheffield

inews: Tony Foulds: how Sheffield pensioner’s chance meeting with Dan Walker inspired the Endcliffe Park flypast

guardian: Sheffield flypast pays tribute to US airmen killed in wartime crash

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

Shamima Begum

Update on 22/02/19
Several of these ISIS bride terrorists now seem to be making attempts to get back into the countries they turned their backs on.

Shamima Begum UK.
Hoda Muthana USA
Kimberly Gwen Polman Canada

No doubt there will be others. It would be difficult to get male ex fighters back into the UK but a young female with child tugging on the heart strings. Much bigger possibility and ISIS is looking at ways to hit out to continue its cause.

Whilst as a civilise society I agree we should show compassion... however there are limits ..... I always come back to this question. If I agreed with these people being acepted back and they then decide to turn ito suicide bombers. Would I want to look in the eyes of the relatives of the dead and say it was worth it, my answer is no.

Im for protecting the many rather than the few who may or may not be safe.

Update on 20/02/19
The Bangladeshi government has declared that Shamima Begum is not a Bangladeshi citizen and that she is a British citizen by birth and has never applied for dual nationality with Bangladesh.

So that changes the ball game slightly

It beggars belief that the Home Secretary Sajid Javid would make an announcement saying that he has stripped her of British citizenship without checking if she does indeed hold dual nationality.

Without dual nationality Sajid Javid is breaking international law. Under international law, it is illegal for a country to make someone stateless by removing their citizenship.

This is sheer incompetence.

It means the baby is a British National.

It means that there will now be an expensive law suit which will be paid for by the tax payer and she will probably win. If she comes back she will probably go to prison and come out more radicalised than she went in, if that's possible.

Sajid Javid is the Home Secretary he has a wealth of resource at his disposal to check these things.

But wait more information.... turns out she would have Bangladesh citizenship by descent only if her parents registered her at a Bangladesh consulate.

The comments below were originally posted on 19/02/19 22:49
--------------------------------------------------
She is a dual British-Bangladeshi national, she can be stripped of British citizenship. Its not illegal.

She wasn't groomed she actively sort out ISIS. Yes she was young and foolish but ....

She is a religious fanatic, We mean less to her and others like her, than the shit on their shoes, that's fact and that's dangerous.

Unfortunately at some stage there has to be a deterrent. The reason we don't all speed everywhere in our cars is we will lose our licence, not really a worthy comparison but hey ho.

If ISIS wasn't in retreat she would still happily be there bringing her son up as a terrorist.

If you think its safe to bring her back please post the effectiveness of de-radicalisation programs. Ill be interested to read the stats.

What will you say to the people who lose their loved ones if she decides to blow herself up and take others with her? Will you be able to look in their eyes and say it was worth it....really?

She is a defacto terrorist she joined a terrorist organisation.

If she was to come back she would go to prison its a fact that in general religious fanatics come out of prison more radicalised than when they went in.

LINKS
https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-citizenship
https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshi_nationality_law
http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/sections_detail.php?id=242&sections_id=7472
http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/pdf_part.php?id=242
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47312207
https://www.dualcitizenship.com/countries/bangladesh.html
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/20/rights-of-shamima-begums-son-not-affected-says-javid

Car Manufacturers Move From UK To Focus On Electric ...But Wait

Apparently car manufacturers are moving out of Britain to focus on electric cars

OK I thought seems fair, Government must be lagging behind in putting infrastructure in place to make owning an electric car viable.

So I checked and seems out of Europe we are in the top 8 of Electric friendly car countries, in fact we are 3rd. I didn't know that so might need more investigation.

However if we are the 3rd most friendly Electric Car country, why are car manufactures moving out of the country to focus on electric cars??

3. The United Kingdom

The U.K. aims to be a major force in the electric vehicle market, which it sees as a way to revitalize the country’s industry and provide high-tech jobs. Along with California, and possibly China, the U.K. is one of the few governments that has a comprehensive strategy for electrification, as opposed to the piecemeal measures being taken by most countries and states. The government’s Road to Zero strategy addresses commercial vehicles, public transport, charging infrastructure and much more, and includes a proposal to end the sale of fossil-powered vehicles by 2040.

The UK currently has over 16,000 public charging points, and the government has established a 400 million-pound fund to finance an expansion of the charging network. Buyers of plug-in vehicles are eligible for grants of up to 4,500 pounds.

LINKS
https://www.inverse.com/article/51127-8-best-european-countries-for-electric-cars

Monday, 18 February 2019

The Tories effectively broke politics in the UK.

There is one thing that will go down in history... the Tories effectively broke politics in the UK.

Starting with the way Cameron held the referendum, which led to a split country, which led to political parties with deep divisions within them. Which I don't see being resolved any time soon.

Maybe new parties will rise from the ashes to gain support from a divided population.

Unfortunately in times like these extreme politics tends to gain a hold....just look at how Hitler got in.

Saturday, 16 February 2019

Devils advocate post no 1 - Freedom Fighters or Terrorists

OK so imaging a scenario where England has been taken over by an invader.
That invader then proceeds to force its religion on the population.
Any attempt at dissent or rebellion is stopped in a bloody and violent way.
English land owners are forced out and land taken over by the invaders.
Half of the population is either killed or exiled, some are sold into human trafficking.
To make their displacement easier on the eye the English are dehumanised and described as lacking in intelligence and morals.
The invader rounds up people who are not of the same religion and places them on ships bound for countries in Africa and the Middle East..
The new English landowners administer their land from their own country and all food is exported for profit causing severe food shortages to the English.
The food shortages result in death and disease.
Attempt at dissent or rebellion still stopped in a bloody, violent way and includes executions.
Eventually a rebel party for the English "The Free English party" wins three-quarters of all seats in all of England and declares sovereignty over all of England.
The invader refuses to accept the "Free English party's" sovereignty and so a Guerilla war ensues.

The Devils advocate question is

A) Are the "Free English party" depicted in this scenario "Freedom fighters"

or

B) Are the "Free English party" depicted in this scenario "Terrorists"

Sunday, 10 February 2019

Is British history taught in British Schools

It would seem from the current curriculum that British History is most definitely taught in British schools.

Key stage 1
Pupils should be taught about:

Changes within living memory.
Where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life.
Events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally [for example, the Great Fire of London, the first aeroplane flight or events commemorated through festivals or anniversaries]
The lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. Some should be used to compare aspects of life in different periods [for example, Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong, William Caxton and Tim Berners-Lee, Pieter Bruegel the Elder and LS Lowry, Rosa Parks and Emily Davison, Mary Seacole and/or Florence Nightingale and Edith Cavell]
Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality.

Key Stage 2
Pupils should be taught about:

Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain
Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots
The Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor
A local history study
A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
The achievements of the earliest civilizations – an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer; The Indus Valley; Ancient Egypt; The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China
Ancient Greece – a study of Greek life and achievements and their influence on the western world
A non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – one study chosen from: early Islamic civilization, including a study of Baghdad c. AD 900; Mayan civilization c. AD 900; Benin (West Africa) c. AD 900-1300.

Key Stage 3
Pupils should be taught about:

The development of Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066-1509
The development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745
Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901
Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day In addition to studying the Holocaust.
A local history study.
The study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066.
At least one study of a significant society or issue in world history and its interconnections with other world developments [for example, Mughal India 1526-1857; China’s Qing dynasty 1644-1911; Changing Russian empires c.1800-1989; USA in the 20th Century].

Maybe people who think, or the media that promotes that British History is not taught in schools....mean British Colonialism is not taught in schools.

A bit like the Battle of Agincourt is not taught in French schools, i wonder why that is?

Or maybe its thought that only British History should be thought and nothing else? I'm really not sure, but what is clear from the curriculum is that British History is taught in schools and what is mentioned above is what has to be taught not under the can include category. There are many more subjects under the can include and I know because my son was very interested in history at school.

LINK
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/13/michael-goves-claims-about-history-teaching-are-false-says-research
https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2018/may/26/secret-teacher-history-bias-school-fear-student-future
https://www.quora.com/How-is-British-colonial-history-taught-in-British-schools
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239035/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_History.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-history-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-history-programmes-of-study
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239075/SECONDARY_national_curriculum_-_History.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jul/13/michael-gove-teaching-history-wars
https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2013/feb/24/michael-gove-history-curriculum-teaching
http://www.historyworkshop.org.uk/history-the-nation-and-the-schools/
https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/3d9jdw/britain-has-never-faced-up-to-the-shame-of-empire

Friday, 8 February 2019

6.5 Million migrants registered with GPs in 10 years

LINKS
https://fullfact.org/immigration/6-million-GP-registrations/

Brexit: Back to the good old Empire days Rule Brittania

There seems to be lots of confusion about Brexit the main one being that the nasty EU is making a point and not giving us a good deal to stop others leaving......

Dur!!!!

That was always going to be the case. Getting a better deal with the EU by leaving was never, ever going to happen.

As has been pointed out many times you dont stop membership of a gym and still get to use the weights.

If anyone thought you would get a better deal from the EU by leaving, Im afraid you were ill informed or naive.

The idea is that by leaving we can strike better deals around the world than the EU can. Which is a bit like believing that the corner shop will be able to get better deals than tescos. But hey! at least the good ship Brittania will be forging its own course across the stormy seas back to the good old British Empire days.

Thursday, 7 February 2019

Brexit: Who is focusing on their own interests?

A few facts....

Northern Ireland voted to remain.

May is only talking to the DUP who don't represent the majority in Northern Ireland.

The DUP prop up the Tories shaky government which gives them power beyond their standing.

"It has been reported that Theresa May refuses to meet with Northern Ireland’s non-unionist political representatives as a group. The four political parties that requested a joint meeting – Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Alliance, and the Green party – represent a remain opinion in Northern Ireland that delivered a strong vote for the EU in the 2016 referendum."

May is only talking to the DUP because the DUP prop up her shaky government otherwise she wouldn't give them the time of day. How many meetings has she had with other parties who more represent the feelings of the NI general public? None.

"The majority of people in Northern Ireland are looking for something quite different from what the DUP is looking for - and yet the DUP is given this platform as if it speaks for Northern Ireland."

So the whole backstop issue and all the problems that has caused appears to be because of stakes in the sand put there by the DUP. Obviously correct me if im wrong but it would seem to me that this whole issue is being caused by a minority party taking an opportunity to push their narrative because it holds the government to ransom with its votes.

Think about it, the whole of the UK is being held to ransom by the DUP.

This is no way to run a negotiation with one of the biggest trading platforms on earth.

Its clear that the ones who are focusing on their own interests rather than the interests of the people is the DUP and the Tories.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts.

LINKS
Guardian: Listen to Northern Irish voters, Theresa May – not the DUP
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Unionist_Party
Belfasttelegraph: DUP 'out of touch' with majority in Northern Ireland on Brexit, says Sinn Fein chief O'Neill

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Donald Tusk: Special place in hell for Brexiteers without a plan

LINKS
BBC: Donald Tusk: Special place in hell for Brexiteers without a plan

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

It wont take long to sort out trade deals

Sunday, 27 January 2019

Cameron and May the Chaos twins.

Whichever way you look at it this current government has been pretty abysmal. Cameron and May the Chaos twins.

LINKS
Britain 'could impose MARTIAL LAW to avoid chaos on the streets after no-deal Brexit' - as MPs face having their holidays CANCELLED to prepare for UK's departure

Lets face facts the Tories have reduced the deficit .....but ...hangon....

"In 2005 the UK “current budget deficit” was less that £20 billion. But then came the worldwide financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent recession. The budget deficit skyrocketed to £50 billion in 2009 and £103 billion in 2010. In the subsequent recovery the deficit has steadily declined, down to £1.9 billion in 2018." {LINK}

So the deficit has reduced by 101.1 billion

But wait ....the UK debt is now over 70% more

"In 2005 the UK National Debt was less that £0.5 trillion. But then came the worldwide financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent recession. The National Debt increased rapidly and went over £1 trillion in 2011. At the end of the 2015-16 fiscal year, the National Debt went over £1.5 trillion." {LINK}

Its worth noting that its a total myth that Labour caused the financial crisis of 2008, a myth perpetuated by the Tories to good effect and people still believe it now. Its well known that the greedy banks caused the crises but the Tories continue to promote the lie.

So UK debt when Tories took over was 1.01 Trillion

UK Debt in 2018 was 1.78 Trillion. That's 780 billion more.

May claimed that a vote for Labour would be a vote for "a coalition of Chaos" the facts are that the Tories turned out to be in chaos.

I'll just mention this.

"Corbyn's spending plans will bankrupt the country" the media screamed "its all uncosted" they claimed.

Fact Corbyn proposed to spend £250 billion on infrastructure, which in turn would create jobs, generally make things better and stimulate the economy.

What happened ....... Total melt down.

The Tories however have increased the UK debt by £770 billion, with nothing to show for it.

Wednesday, 23 January 2019

Brexit: James Dyson Singapore Sling

"Dyson is going to be based in a country that has a free-trade agreement with the EU, Yet James Dyson told you we should leave in order to boost British business."

LINKS Guardian: Dyson to move company HQ to Singapore
https://www.politico.eu/article/brexiteer-james-dyson-to-move-hq-to-singapore
Express: James Dyson declares Brexit will be a disaster for EUROPE as he predicts UK will WALK AWAY
https://www.indy100.com/article/james-dyson-brexit-singapore-electric-cars-eu-8598891
EU-Singapore: Council adopts decisions to sign trade and investment agreements
Wikipedia: European Union–Singapore Free Trade Agreement
Bloomberg: Brexit Sucks the Air Out of Dyson's Asia Move

Friday, 18 January 2019

Why hasn't Corbyn condemned the IRA?

Corbyn generally sticks to the mantra that he condems all violence.

However in in 1994 Jeremy Corbyn signed a motion that condemned IRA violence.

Jeremy Corbyn signed a motion in the House of Commons that condemned IRA violence and "extended its sympathy to the relatives of those murdered".

The Leader of the Labour Party supported an early day motion put forward by Labour MP David Winnick to commemorate the victims of the IRA bombing in Birmingham in 1974.

The motion was tabled on the 20 year anniversary of the attack that killed 21 people and injured 182 others and was signed by Mr Corbyn in November 1994.

So in answer to the question

Why hasn't Corbyn condemned the IRA?

He has.

LINKS
Independent: Jeremy Corbyn signed a motion that condemned IRA violence in 1994

Wednesday, 16 January 2019

Facebook goes into melt down with anti Corbyn memes.

A narrow miss of getting a no confidence vote in the worst Tory government for years and Facebook goes into melt down with anti Corbyn memes.

Luckily as could be seen in the last General Election the public are seeing through the mis-information, lies, insults etc.

May will probably win today's no confidence vote in the Conservative party. But at what cost?

I expect Mayhem will win todays no confidence vote in the Conservative party. But at what cost, what will the DUP want this time for their backing? Plus the Tories are unlikely to vote for a no confidence vote in themselves.

So where does that leave us.

May seems to have been pushing forward on a deal of her own making in some grand attempt at being the Savior of the UK and putting herself on a standing with Thatcher in the history books (Not that I hold Thatcher in that great esteem) a vanity project from the start. It is one thing Tories are good at ...vanity.

So is she playing a very clever remain game or a very bad leave game.

Going against the mandate of the country would be a very dangerous thing to do for any PM but she was a remainer at the start.

2 years of convoluted negotiations, well wasn't 2 years because it took about a year and a half to decide what they wanted and the EU still doesn't seem to know. 3 brexit Secretary's later and we are still no nearer to starting to negotiate trade deals.

The mantra still at present is
My deal
No deal
Or no brexit

However at the start it was Brexit means Brexit.....whatever that means. Seems to mean whatever brexit I dream up.

As the house is definitely opposed to no deal that leaves only 2 so she could be playing a clever remain game. Hmmm!

Seems to me the EU keep saying tell us what you really want. By that I think they mean we don't want to know what Mayhem wants we want to know what parliament wants. All the indications are that they realise that mayhem is forging forward with what she wants so they are not prepared to negotiate any further.

A proper proposal backed by parliament I believe the EU would discuss. Personally I think Mayhem is lying when she says there is no further negotiation. Yes there is no further negotiation on her deal but a deal backed by parliament would be looked at.

As such I conclude that she's just playing a vanity game and play hero. Trying to get herself in the history books as another Thatcher, although the Tory knives soon came out for her. Corbyn's only route after such an epic fail had to be to call for a vote of no confidence. Everyone would have been putting the boot in if he diddnt, even though chances of winning were slim.

Personally I think there should be a GE as it would hand back power to the people. All parties can campaign on the detail of what they think Brexit should be or even no brexit and the people can vote on the detail.

Another referendum well what goes on the ballot paper? May's deal, no deal, remain? We already voted to leave... How many referendums should we have? Should there need to be a clear 60% majority next time? I think there should.

Nope a General Election is the best route in my humble opinion.

Update

Have to say I don't agree with Labour's stance that a no deal Brexit should be taken of the table before cross party talks. This is not the time to be taking away the only thing that might worry the EU in negotiations. Also May would agree to this if her plan was always to engineer some form of Remain, we wait and see. I can see why its being asked for but its also going to have little impact on business now at this late stage, so keep it in the cards we are holding while we work out how to play them.

Sunday, 13 January 2019

Tories ready to self destruct?

I said 2 years ago that whoever negotiates brexit would die on their own sword. The vote was too close whatever deal you negotiate it'll be wrong for nearly 50%.

I believe the only way forward now is a General election. Each party can set out what their idea of brexit is and the country can vote on it.

If Mayhem makes it through the next 3 weeks I'll be amazed. Maybe we could even see a split in the Tories. Maybe other parties as well.

Interesting times in UK politics I wouldn't want to be a politician.

Sinn Fein could really make things interesting if they turned up to vote. What a publicity stunt that would be.

Thursday, 10 January 2019

Without Bercow there would be no Brexit

Today John Bercow made a decision that has sent certain groups of people into meltdown.

The Commons erupted over Speaker John Bercow's decision to allow an attempt to change the rules for the resumed "meaningful vote" debate. This is no mere technicality. The amendment proposed by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve would require the government to come back within three days, rather than 21, to debate the implications of not having a Brexit deal - if the prime minister's deal is indeed voted down next Tuesday.

Under the previous rules, that debate would be kicked back to late February, with the Brexit clock ticking remorselessly in the background. The new Grieve amendment, now passed by MPs, means that in the event the PM loses next week, the Commons will then have a chance to vote on alternative policies - everything from a "managed no-deal" to a further referendum, via a "Norway option" or a reheated version of the current deal, could be on the table.

If a majority could be found for anything, it would not have the force of law - but it would at least indicate a policy which had the support of MPs.

However back in the mists of time now ....back back to 2013 John Bercow made a decision that was described as "the single most important decision of his speakership" and paved the way for Brexit.

"And here is where Mr Speaker Bercow enters our story, with a ruling on an apparently in-house issue that probably ranks as the single most important decision of his speakership. He allowed an extra amendment to the Queen's Speech, stretching the terms of Commons Standing Order 33 probably beyond breaking point in the process."

Those who are in meltdown over this would do well do remember that without Bercow making the decision in 2013 there wouldn't be any Brexit.

As David Allen Green said in the Financial Times

"The recent decision by John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, to allow a vote on an amendment on a government business motion has prompted Tory unhappiness and screaming front page headlines in the right wing press. Even on its own merits, the subject is arcane. One suspects that few of those supposedly upset by this development knew or cared whether such votes were possible before a few days ago."

"In fact, there is little to be genuinely concerned about in what happened. All the Speaker did was to allow MPs to vote on how the business of the House should be conducted. The government’s real problem is not that the vote took place, but that it no longer has a working majority on Brexit issues. And the outcome of the vote was sensible: it obliges the government to act swiftly if, as is expected, it loses the “meaningful” vote next week on accepting the Brexit withdrawal agreement. Only a knavish or foolish partisan could be vexed by this."

Soapbox Comment

The Brexit referendum wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Bercow.
He's normally pretty good at allowing all parties to put things forward for debate.
Personally I don't think he's very good at keeping the baying Tory animal pack in check.
I think it's a good move to get May back in 3 days if she loses the vote. That's what they are there for to debate things and make decisions.
The vote was leave to take back democracy, well one of the reasons. This is our democracy at work.....debating and voting on things, not putting things off so they cant be discussed.
All they have to do now is make MPs legally liable for lying and libeling and take away Parliamentary privilege with regard to that and we'll be getting somewhere.

LINKS
BBC: Brexit: How rebel MPs outfoxed Cameron to get an EU referendum
Guardian: John Bercow backs referendum on Britain's EU membership
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2015-06-09c.1047.0
Guardian: Brexit: MPs vote 308-297 in favour of amendment for three-day 'plan B' deadline - Politics live
FT: Outrage at John Bercow is the sound of a constitution working

Wednesday, 9 January 2019

So who's gonna pay for the wall?

A little light relieve from Brexit and Borders ..... lets go to another Border.

So if Mexico is paying for the wall why are there loads of US workers not getting a Salary at present because Trump hasn't got the money for the wall?

Looks to me like he had 2 years when he had control and still couldn't get the money.

So who's really going to end up paying for the wall?

Hmmmm...I'm not a hard core betting man but...curve ball coming.

Anna Soubry didn't claim £14 for delivering Remembrance Day Poppies

So the question is did Anna Soubry claim £14 for delivering Remembrance Day Poppies?

The meme doesn't say when, but according to the Daily Mirror ......

The office of Soubry – who was Veterans Minister at the time – billed taxpayers for travel expenses for the 32.3-mile trip last November

ByVincent Moss & Matthew Drake

21:23, 13 JUN 2015

UPDATED21:25, 13 JUN 2015

So if it was last November it must be November 2014

The office of the former TV presenter, 58 – who was Veterans Minister at the time – billed taxpayers £14.54 for travel expenses for the 32.3-mile trip last November.

Soubry said her office administrator made the claim for delivering the poppies to be used in services around her constituency of Broxtowe, Notts, while the MP attended a ceremony in Beeston.

Soubry was on a salary of £98,740 when the trip was made. It was described in the claim as an “around constituency trip delivering wreaths to constituents to lay on Member’s behalf”.

Soapbox Comment

Looking through MP's expenses for the year 14/15 there is only one amount for £14.54
Claim no. 389154
The date is 28/10/2014 ....which isn't November.
Category is: Staff Travel Expense type is: Own Vehicle Car MP Staff Journey Type is: Within Constituency Travel
There are no other details
Basic salary received during 2014 to 2015 was £67,059.96

As much as I like Tory bashing the Meme is incorrect Anna Soubry didn't claim travel expenses to deliver Poppies. A staff member did make an expense claim for £14.58 for Within Constituency Travel, 14 days before Remembrance day.

Her salary during 2014/15 was £67,059.96, so where the mirror gets £98,740 from I'm not sure.

LINKS
Mirror: Tory minister Anna Soubry claimed £14 cost of delivering Remembrance Day poppies
http://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/your-mp/anna-soubry
https://broxvox.wordpress.com/2015/06/14/anna-soubry-lambasted-in-ill-informed-and-suggestive-mirror-article
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24772/anna_soubry/broxtowe

Latest thoughts on Brexit

There shouldn't be another vote on brexit. The vote should never have been run on 1st past the post vote but should have required a 60% majority, that way country would not be split. However Cameron and the Tories ran it that way so that's it. The only way to revote now is a General Election.

Mayhems deal is looking like it will get voted down. Unless she changes it slightly with a amendment that she'll take it back to the EU for hard assurances on the backstop. That might pacify a few, maybe enough to get it through?

If it is voted down Labour will probably trigger a vote of no confidence in the Government. That vote will rely on whether the DUP continue to support the Tories.

Just a thought but what would really throw a spanner in the works would be if Sinn Fein took their seats in parliament for the vote.

A lot of MPs would go for a GE because the country gets to vote again and it bypasses another vote being called undemocratic.

Sunday, 6 January 2019

Does the Good Friday agreement mention the border between N.Ireland and Ireland?

The Good Friday Agreement

Does the Good Friday agreement mention the border between N. Ireland and Ireland?

In fact The Good Friday Agreement is ambiguous in the extreme which was fine when we were part of the EU. Now we are leaving it causes problems.

The word Border on its own is used once under the heading

RIGHTS, SAFEGUARDS AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY

Economic, Social and Cultural Issues

2. Subject to the public consultation currently under way, the British Government will make rapid progress with:

(i) a new regional development strategy for Northern Ireland, for consideration in due course by a the Assembly, tackling the problems of a divided society and social cohesion in urban, rural and border areas, protecting and enhancing the environment, producing new approaches to transport issues, strengthening the physical infrastructure of the region, developing the advantages and resources of rural areas and rejuvenating major urban centres;

Apart from that the word border is used a further 9 times as cross-border I wont post them all but they can be found in these sections.

STRAND TWO - NORTH/SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL - there are Severn mentions of cross-border.

BRITISH-IRISH INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE - there are Two mentions of cross-border. {LINK}

The only thing that is mentioned which would relate to the border but doesn't specifically say it in the agreement. Is the mention of removal of security installations.

LINKS

Gov.uk: The Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, was reached in multi-party negotiations and signed on 10 April 1998.
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/TheGoodFridayAgreementBrexitandRights_0.pdf

Thursday, 20 December 2018

Corbyn - Stupid Woman? Stupid People?

Absolutely disgraceful behavior and nothing more than filibustering. Should sack the lot of them. Politicians are there to do a rather important job... so do that job rather than points scoring, acting like a bunch of animals and displaying fake outrage over such trivia.

Amazing that there was no time to debate a motion of no confidence in a pm that's doing nothing more than running the clock down, but they were able to spend nearly 3 hours debating whether Corbyn maybe said something insulting or not.

Bearing in mind the amount or insults and allegations actually said by Tory PMs out loud, to Corbyn, which would possibly attract liable allegations if said outside parliament, this really shows the level of this utter shower of incompetents.

The reason for this and they damm well know it, they are doing everything to avoid having the vote on Mayhems deal, so they can drive the bus closer to the cliff edge, with Mayhem hanging out the window shouting "its my deal or no deal"

Having the vote would mean losing the support of the DUP, lose that and a vote of no confidence in the Tories would probably succeed.

But also having that vote would allow other options to be debated, including no deal. Which is what they should be doing.

Wednesday, 19 December 2018

A better deal was never on the cards for leaving EU

Its very simple, right from the start we were never going to be able to negotiate a better deal for leaving the EU than staying in it. As has been said its like stopping your membership of the gym and still wanting to go in and use the weights.

The question no-one knows the answer too is, will we be better off, eventually, once we have left and arranged our own deals with others. Your guess is as good as mine and lots of people have opinions on this. But they are just opinions.

Which begs the question, in this dark tunnel into which we ride, is the light at the end near or far away or is it another train coming the other way?

Monday, 17 December 2018

From: Richard Knocker (Ex-pilot in the Gulf)

Ok this one is great, I thought we were getting project hope from leavers but nope this is the best project fear I've yet seen and best of all its pretty much all bollox.

If good old Richard was a pilot in the gulf wars then it didn't help his powers of researching facts.

So here we go....Fake news coming up

.............................................................

From: Richard Knocker (Ex-pilot in the Gulf wars)

OK so we’ve had the worst-case scenario for leaving the EU given to us by numerous outlets ranging from the Bank of England to the spoiled prepubescent acting momentum supporter and everyone in-between.
So, I am now going to tell you the worst-case scenario of remaining in the EU based on actual known factors and figures, sourced from the public records of the UK Government, the EU Parliament, The Bank of England, the CBI, Migration watch, The Stock exchanges around the world, the IMF, and the UN.
So those of you who think that this little rant is a tin foil hat moment by myself think again and go and fully research and cross reference what I am about to tell you and remember this is worst-case scenario that could happen unless I clearly point out where it will happen by either a date or other factor.

KNOWN OUTCOMES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN AGREED AS TRUE BY ALL SIDES:

1: The UK along with all existing members of the EU lose their abstention veto in 2020 as laid down in the Lisbon Treaty when the system changes to that of majority acceptance with no abstentions or veto’s being allowed.
2: All member nations will become states of the new federal nation of the EU by 2022 as clearly laid out in the Lisbon treaty with no exceptions or veto’s.
3: All member states must adopt the Euro by 2022 and any new member state must do so within 2 years of joining the EU as laid down in the Lisbon treaty.
4: The London stock exchange will move to Frankfurt in 2020 and be integrated into the EU stock exchange resulting in a loss of 200,000 plus jobs in the UK because of the relocation. This has already been pre-agreed and is only on a holding pattern due to the Brexit negotiations, which if Brexit does happen the move is fully cancelled but if not and the UK remains a member it’s full steam ahead for the move.
5: The EU Parliament and ECJ become supreme over all legislative bodies of the UK.
6: The UK will adopt 100% of whatever the EU Parliament and ECJ lays down without any means of abstention or veto, negating the need for the UK to have the Lords or even the Commons as we know it today.
7: The UK will NOT be able to make its own trade deals.
8: The UK will NOT be able to set its own trade tariffs.
9 The UK will NOT be able to set its own trade quotas.
10: The UK loses control of its fishing rights
11: The UK loses control of its oil and gas rights
12: The UK loses control of its borders and enters the Schengen region by 2022 as clearly laid down in the Lisbon treaty
13: The UK loses control of its planning legislation
14: The UK loses control of its armed forces including its nuclear deterrent
15: The UK loses full control of its taxation policy
16: The UK loses the ability to create its own laws and to implement them
17: The UK loses its standing in the Commonwealth
18: The UK loses control of any provinces or affiliated nations e.g.; Falklands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar ect
19: The UK loses control of its judicial system
20: The UK loses control of its international policy
21: The UK loses full control of its national policy
22: The UK loses its right to call itself a nation in its own right.
23: The UK loses control of its space exploration program
24: The UK loses control of its Aviation and Sea lane jurisdiction
25: The UK loses its rebate in 2020 as laid down in the Lisbon treaty
26: The UK’s contribution to the EU is set to increase by an average of 1.2bn pa and by 2.3bn pa by 2020

PROBABLE WORST-CASE OUTCOMES

1: The UK will become nothing more than a vassal protectorate state
2: With the continuation of freedom of movement, the population of the UK will continue to grow at a rate higher than pre-referendum level ranging between 400,000 to 675,000 per annum.
2.1; Which will result in not just wage suppression but even wage depression.
2.2; More than 500,000 new homes to be built annually (We are currently only managing 125,000)
2.3; House prices and rents will skyrocket annually by 23%
2.4; Class sizes in schools would have to increase by 50% if not even double
2.5; The NHS will become solely an emergency service of care provider as they would no longer be able to cope with the numbers of people needing care other than those of emergency.
2.6; GP’s will become triage centres
2.7; Public transport will become permit holders use only
2.8; Only those that did a serious crime namely murder will be given a custodial sentence
2.9; The Court system becomes fully overrun to the point extreme cases only being heard and the rest being given an automatic fine
2.10; Emergency services collapsing for not being able to cope with the scale of things
2.11; Social care becoming solely private social care for those who can afford it.
2.12; Homelessness to increase by over 28% annually
2.13; Unemployment to increase annually by 37%
2.14; The Benefit system to collapse fully to the point of the return of soup kitchens and even workhouse existence
2.15; Crime to increase by over 59% annually
2.16; Shanty towns to become the norm standard of housing
3: Because the UK would no longer be able to make its own trade deals, nor control its tariffs or quotas, Food prices would increase by over 25% and the cost of living would go up by over 39%
4: Because the UK would lose its oil and gas rights it would also lose the revenue from taxation on them, resulting in a loss of over 600 billion per year in taxation revenue
5: Because the UK will become a member state its percentage share of the vote on any new laws, regulations, treaties and everything else is at current member numbers 3.57% of the vote. That’s right folks the UK say in the EU if it was to remain a member is 3.57% total

Everything I have put thus far is just the very extreme tip of the iceberg that is ready to sink the UK if we remain a member of the EU.

Everything is verifiable by the sources I have already outlined above and is something the EU propaganda machine as well as our very own government are not telling you.

Remainers keep on bleating about that the people didn’t know all of the facts If that’s the case then why are they failing to tell the people the downside or remaining a member of the EU.

ASK YOURSELVES THAT FACT AND FIND OUT THE TRUE HARD FACTS FOR YOURSELF

Richard Knocker

......................................END

Let's just say for a start if any of the above were true then Mogg, Johnson, etc etc would be shouting it from the rooftops.

The UK has opted out of various bits of the Lisbon treaty including jurisdiction of the court of justice.

See below

"In order to avoid submitting to the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice and to enforcement actions by the Commission, the UK negotiated an opt-out which allows them the option of a block withdrawal from all third pillar measures they had previously chosen to participate in.

In October 2012 the UK government announced that it intended to exercise this opt-out and then selectively opt back into certain measures"

I'll cherry pick another.... "unemployment to increase annually by 37%" on that basis well over half the country would be unemployed in 8 years.....really?

There really is no attempt at reality in this at all.

I'll update a bit more later when on a pc if I can be bothered to give it time.

Tompride has already pulled this apart so ive stolen his graphics, sorry Tom credit given

Ok ill pick out another one The London stock exchange. The London stock exchange is a PLC its not controlled by the EU and could choose to go where it wants as could any company.

How about the Euro .... This is from the Lisbon treaty ...

The Union has exclusive competence to make directives and conclude international agreements when provided for in a Union legislative act as to …

monetary policy for the Member States whose currency is the euro

Lets restate that, to avoid confusion... the EU will have control of monetary policy for the member states who's currency is the Euro. In case anyone is still not sure... our currency is the pound.

and here's the link to Richard Knocker the pilot who's name has been used.

The problem with people posting crap like this is it stifles debate in the real issues.

I WOULD AGREE WITH ONE THING ....FIND OUT THE TRUE HARD FACTS FOR YOURSELF.

The truth is most wont bother. Sad really.

I would say to leavers... if something is that bad you don't have to lie about it, lying about it makes people question your argument.

LINK'S

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Lisbon

Tompride: Leavers ALREADY campaigning to win second referendum on social media – with even WORSE LIES than before

Lisbon Treaty