This thread exists to discuss British politics.
Political issues related to Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies (the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) are also considered on-topic here if there's no more appropriate OTC thread for them.
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As with other OTC threads, off-topic posts may be thumped or edited by the moderators.
- There is a dedicated thread to discuss LGBTQ+ rights in the United Kingdom. That doesn't mean it's always off-topic here, but unless something's directly linked to political events, that's probably a better thread for it.
- There's also a separate thread to talk about your favourite British Prime Ministers.
Recent political stuff:
- The vote to see if Britain should adopt Alternative Voting has failed.
- Lib Dems lose lots of councils and councillors, whilst Labour make the majority of the gains in England.
- The Scottish National Party do really well in the elections.
A link to the BBC politics page containing relevant information.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 3rd 2023 at 11:15:30 AM
Prince of Dorne
Who still needs to specify "unleaded petrol"? You couldn't even get leaded petrol here anymore... Anyway, you have to remember that in European countries most of this is taxes. So it's not like European countries have it so much harder to gain oil than America, but that they tax the shit out of them. Because 1) it's a godo sense of money and 2) discouraging people from making useless car drives is a good thing.
Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken. Unrelated ME1 Fanfic
Decemberist
You can't get leaded petrol here either but its an Artifact title thing
Dutch Lesbian
Plus we get things like Super Unleaded so there'll be three options at the pump: unleaded, super unleaded and diesel.
Sneering Imperialist
So raising the price of cheap alcohol is class warfare, but hindering the ability of the poor to afford driving isn't?
With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
Prince of Dorne
Yes, because for the most parts you don't have "high class petrol". There are no-brand petrol stations, of course, but most people use brand petrol stations anyway. So for the most part, everybody uses much the same petrol as much the same prices. Meanwhile, minimum alcohol prices make just the cheap alcohol more expensive, i.e. the alcohol the less well off people will buy.
Mind, of course, if you want to discourage people from using teh car you better have a good public transportation system in place...
Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken. Unrelated ME1 Fanfic
Dreams of Revenge
^^It does indeed seem rather disingenious. And really, I believe that "class warfare" doesn't come into the issue of curbing binge drinking; it's a matter of public health. As for the issue of people finding solace in alcohol, perhaps we should look at methods of getting them back on their feet.
I must admit I have little grasp of how economics works, but since we're more or less sitting near oil fields you'd think that fuel would be cheaper (unless they're deciding to export the vast majority of it).
edited 23rd Mar '12 5:10:47 PM by Flanker66
Locking you up on radar since '09
Sneering Imperialist
Unfortunately we have the most ludicrously (and I do mean ludicrously) expensive rail network in Europe. On a personal level, I prefer driving to any other method of transportation you'd care to mention, and the dire state of public transport in this country only reinforces that. Bottom line, I'm fed up of paying through the nose to travel any real distance in my car when every alternative is just as expensive and much more unpleasant.
With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
That's basically the problem in Britain. Our public transport network isn't as bad as the Americans, but in terms of the EU, it's pretty pisspoor. Considering that our rail network is privatised to a bunch of companies that have near-monopolies - with state funding - it's hard to actually get decent trains. Intra-city transit (e.g. public buses, trains, trams) are okay - if you actually live in one of the seven metropolitan areas - due to economies of scale, basically. Our inter-city network - especially trains - although not terrible, is still pretty shoddy.
Decemberist
@Hope, its worse if you live off the beaten track because petrol is more expensive and the public transit system is non existent
Dutch Lesbian
V
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
...and that's with a fuel subsidy (which is going to be reduced from April). And anyway, even Councils won't fund a bus full of thin air (which has always been the case).
Firstly, Railways are Franchised by the Government. Companies have lost franchises (remember Central Trains?) and others have been taken from companies (East Coast) — the Government is in control, of everything from arranging the ordering of stock, to setting fares. Incidentally, that is why some fares have risen — the Government is reducing their subsidy of the railways.
A little useful article: Here.
By the way, the first time Rail Nationalisation was called for? Gladstone in the 1830s.
The time the State took full control over the Railways? 1948.
edited 24th Mar '12 1:09:06 PM by Greenmantle
Keep Rolling On
Woah, crap.
I can see the Daily Mail:
30MAR12 "BRITAIN TO BREAK INTO CIVIL WAR BETWEEN DECENT PEOPLE, GOVERNMENT"
V
Soldiers stand by to drive petrol tankers as part of contingency plans to stop a strike plunging Britain into chaos: Well, that's the Mail article — no sign of Class Warfare there. The comments are another matter, I guess...
Radical plan to create new Midlands city on green belt land to cope with population growth: It might be the Daily Mail, but it's on Channel Four News as well.
If you're wondering, hopeless, it is planned to be in the Merdian Gap between Birmingham (well, Solihull) and Coventry.
Keep Rolling On
Bah. It's only the Meridian Gap. It serves little purpose as green belt, considering that there's a lot of green belt already around the Greater Birmingham Metropolitan. Ah. Ah. This is where it gets interesting. Meridian is a Conservative stronghold.
V
...and aren't they the ones Proposing it?
That it's a Town or City doesn't mean it has to be Labour, you know!
Keep Rolling On
Indeed. That's what's interesting. A Conservative government are going to build over a stronghold.
Now, that indeed is true.
BBC Panorama are talking about how NDS, an Israeli security firm funded by Sky, attacked Canal+ and brought down Ondigital (later ITV Digital) by hacking digital cards and leaking information online via groups like THOIC.
edited 26th Mar '12 12:51:48 PM by TheBatPencil
And let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that)
...
What the fu—
There's unfair competition, and being fucking illegal.
Decemberist
This is going to suck.
V
Definately.
My job is driving — in fact, I spoke with the Manager about this earlier this evening. Right now, he's going to play it by ear and see how it goes.
I remember last time.
And in other News:
- A&E waits for patients in ambulances increase in southern England: Yep, people waiting in Ambulances to get into A&E. To quote from the article:
- Game Group goes into administration, closing 277 stores: GAME's Game is Over.
- HMS Liverpool returns to Portsmouth base for final time.
edited 26th Mar '12 2:51:02 PM by Greenmantle
Keep Rolling On
Decemberist
Ed Miliband attacks David Cameron's judgement over Tory donations
A sting by the Times paper, possibly firing the first shots of the Murdoch empire's war against the Government, found that the Tory party was selling dinners with the PM to donors so they could lobby him directly
Dutch Lesbian
I already know of one local pump station that hasn't had any fuel in it for about a month now. How long is the strike supposed to be for?
And let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that)
Do Not Go Gentle
Planning system awaits overhaul in England
Yeah, this includes parks, playgrounds, recreational centers...but they won't get built, this'll be for office blocks, supermarkets and large houses, I think. Most people need to build small properties, which is still ridiculously obtrusive at times.
Sometimes, the Coalition doesn't try to hide the fact they don't care.
It's your God, they're your rules, you go to hell." - Mark Twain
1.40 a litre?
Holy crap. And our friends across the ocean are complaining about <does mathematics> 64 pence per litre?!
"... and students, this is an ancient relic from the Oil Age. it is called an ey-pod. It was a gift given by the great Steve Gods to the ancient tribal democracy of Grand Britain."