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.
If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations
and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines before posting here.
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
V
Historical abuse inquiry: Police examine 'possible homicide'
A key witness who has spoken to police has told the BBC that he was abused for nine years as a boy. He has appealed for others who may have evidence to come forward.
The Metropolitan Police said detectives were made aware of allegations regarding possible homicide during the last month. The Met's statement said officers from its child abuse investigation command were working closely with colleagues from the homicide and major crime command.
"At this early stage in this inquiry, with much work still to do, it is not appropriate to issue appeals or reveal more information," the force said. "We will not be giving a commentary as this inquiry develops, and it is important that officers are allowed to pursue their work without interference. We will not comment upon speculation as to the identity of any person or locations that may or may not feature in this inquiry."
Speaking anonymously to the BBC but using the name "Nick", the alleged victim said he had given three days of video-taped evidence to detectives. His accounts are being assessed as part of Operation Midland, a new Scotland Yard investigation which is under the umbrella of its inquiry into historical abuse, Operation Fairbank.
Nick, now in his 40s, says that he was first abused by his own father before being "handed over" as a young boy to the group.
"They were very powerful people and they controlled my life for the next nine years," Nick added. "They created fear that penetrated every part of me, day in day out. You didn't question what they wanted, you did as they asked without question and the punishments were very severe."
Nick said the group was "very organised" and would arrange for chauffeur-driven cars to pick up boys, sometimes from school, and drive them to "parties" or "sessions" at locations including hotels and private apartments in London and other cities.
The children were not usually allowed to speak with each other and Nick says he struggled to work out the identities of the abusers. He has given the names of some of those he believes were involved to the police and the BBC.
The BBC has agreed not to reveal any of these names because of the ongoing police investigation and because of the need for further evidence to corroborate his account.
"They had no hesitation in doing what they wanted to do," Nick said. "Some of them were quite open about who they were. They had no fear at all of being caught, it didn't cross their mind."
When a child "stepped out of line", he said that abusers would inflict brutal and painful punishments.
He said: "[The abuse] destroyed my ability to trust. It's pretty much wrecked any relationships I have had. Intimacy for me is a pretty much a no-go area."
Nick said he had one motivation for speaking to the BBC - to encourage other alleged victims or those who unwittingly assisted the abusers to come forward.
"They need to find the strength that we as survivors have done," he said. "People who drove us around could come forward. Staff in some of the locations could come forward. There are so many people who must have had suspicions.
"We weren't smuggled in under a blanket through the back door. It was done openly and people must have questioned that and they need to come forward."
Nick says his torment suddenly came to an end when he went to a pre-arranged place to be picked up by a driver and no-one arrived.
He went the next day, worried that he would be punished for a diary mistake. Again there was no car waiting. He never saw his abusers again and says he still has no idea why.
Sneering Imperialist
Ugh, no. Freedom of movement is a fundamental principle of the EU because...it's a fundamental principle of the EU. There's not much point in an EU without freedom of movement.
With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
Hey, I'm not saying it's a good thing, far from it. But from my perspective, I can't see how to counter this anti-EU rhetoric of the last decade or so. And if we can't counter that, then there is no hope for any referendum regardless of the 'negotiations' that are due to take place should the Conservatives win the general election. This may be pessimistic, but unless someone can create a unified vision of the UK as an active and willing participant in an EU project that the country can get behind all the "In" camp will have is the status quo that has been vilified and discredited countless times verses an "Out" campaign that has long decided that the solution of all of our ills is glorious isolation.
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
Anti-EU rhetoric can and will be countered as soon as it becomes a serious risk to the country's vested financial interests, because while it's good for getting the racists and little-Englanders on side, an actual EU exit would be an economic disaster. If a referendum ever does happen, rather than being kicked into the long grass ad infinitum, you'll see papers like the Telegraph change their tune fast, and all the dirty laundry everyone's got stored up on UKIP coming into the open at once. Remember the AV referendum? Yeah.
The serious EU reform Cameron keeps promising his pet xenophobes is extremely unlikely to materialise as well. He's a spectacularly incompetent diplomat, and he's burned up a lot of our political capital in Europe over petty squabbles that were better avoided. We're seen as the Spoiled Brat of the EU, and not without cause.
What's precedent ever done for us?
A procrastination in of itself
We could always leave. We elect a Tory government with lots of UKIP members existing separately, we exit the EU and watch the country burn to the ground over 5 years. We suffer though a crisis that equals that of the great depression, our nation falls to peace and we have riots in the streets.
Then we learn our lesson and go back to the EU on our hands and knees, we beg Brussels to take us back and as an act of penance for our sins become ardent advocates for a untied Europe, because we've seen what life outside the EU is really like.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
So apparently it's OK to use anti-terror legislation for protectionism.
BBC: Food ban at ATP tennis tour finals over 'terror fears'
Ticket holders attending the ATP World Tour Finals said they were "shocked and disappointed" to have their snacks and drinks taken by security upon arrival.
Some fans claimed the reason was that the venue's food outlets were not making enough money.
Organisers said fans were told about the "security measures" beforehand.
Hmmm...
In the us most stadiums do that without the excuse.
Most British cinemas do that already. And have been for years.
"Yup. That tasted purple."
Hmmm...
So what I'm saying is, it's probably not being used as an excuse because they don't actually need one.
No, they actually said it was for security reasons because of the increased terror threat.
"In addition to being printed on the tickets, the additional security measures have been communicated via email to all ticket holders prior to the event."
The O2 Arena said it was "easier, fairer and quicker for all guests to have a blanket 'no food and drink policy' than get into specifics, which would be unmanageable and cause unnecessary delays".
An ATP spokesman added the policy was introduced as a result of the increased terror threat.
edited 15th Nov '14 2:35:17 AM by Deadbeatloser22
"Yup. That tasted purple."
V
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
We all why that is...
News:
The BBC's Papers:
The SNP & Scotland:
- SNP conference: Nicola Sturgeon urges voters to dump Labour
- SNP conference: Hosie elected SNP deputy leader
- Salmond's parting shot: Scotland could leave the UK of its own accord
- Report says that the North of England gives more than devolved nations combined
Miliband, May & the M25:
- Miliband to attack Sports Direct over zero-hours contracts — There are so many other places he could have chosen...
- Colchester Hospital declares 'major incident'
- May's abuse inquiry request 'inappropriate' say MPs — The Home Affairs Select Committee say that May should decide the new head of the enquiry, not them...
- Children in Need 2014 raises £32.6m for charities
- M25 reopens after pothole collapse causes day-long closure
Brummijen:
edited 15th Nov '14 2:46:05 AM by Greenmantle
Keep Rolling On
"Salmond's parting shot: Scotland should leave the UK, no matter what Scotland says".
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
HGW XX/7
Promises were made to Scotland. If they are not kept, we don't owe the English anything.
Re: the North giving more
You would expect the North to outproduce the devolved nations in nominal terms, because it has four million more people living in it. I suspect, however, that their per capita contribution will be less than Scotland or Wales.
edited 15th Nov '14 3:30:11 AM by Achaemenid
Schild und Schwert der Partei
V
Is there any support in Scotland for devolution to a lower level then Holyrood — to the towns and cities, and to the more rural counties?
HGW XX/7
The islands want more powers - Orkney and Shetland were dead against indy, for instance.
Schild und Schwert der Partei
BBC: SNP conference: Nicola Sturgeon says party could hold balance of power
Ms Sturgeon said the SNP would never do a deal which would put the Conservatives into power in the event of a hung parliament.
She said Scotland could gain much from a Labour government at Westminster that depended on SNP M Ps for support.
But a deal would depend on commitments including scrapping Trident.
Not sure if want. On the one hand, it's a good way to make sure that the devolution promise happens. On the other, they're still trying to force through an end to the nuclear deterrent.
"Yup. That tasted purple."
HGW XX/7
Scrapping Trident is likely a bluff. I think the key deal will be Devo Max on SNP terms. Hopefully to include making constitutional change require a majority in each of the four Kingdoms to pass.
Schild und Schwert der Partei
Which of course makes us the convenient scapegoat.
"Yup. That tasted purple."
HGW XX/7
And lets Scotland remain in the EU.
edited 15th Nov '14 10:52:13 AM by Achaemenid
Schild und Schwert der Partei
I forget, are Labour pushing for the referendum or not?
"Yup. That tasted purple."
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
Lip service at most. Their base doesn't require as much of that particular kind of pandering.
What's precedent ever done for us?
V
News Today, so far:
Newspaper Round-Up, from The BBC:
The Police:
- Police fail to record one in five of all crimes reported to them, says report
- Hampshire police failed to record 40% of crimes — More than double the average.
- Our crime figures are no more than a political charade — The Guardian
- Hampshire police failed to record 40% of crimes
- 'Plebgate' libel case: Police accused of 'web of lies'
Labour's Borders, Gas Explosions and Drones:
- Labour pledges 1,000 extra border staff
- Organised child sex abuse 'widespread in England', MPs say
- MPs tell HMRC to pick up the pace of tax investigations
- NHS ombudsman 'failing families'
- House in Southampton destroyed by 'gas explosion'
- Alleged extremist stripped of citizenship appeals to Supreme Court
- Unmanned drones 'being used to harass people', police say
That's a drop in the ocean compared to the number of crimes that don't even get reported, many because of this mentality. The Crime Survey for England and Wales suggests that there were "an estimated 7.3 million incidents of crime against households and resident adults (aged 16 and over) in England and Wales for the year ending March 2014", but that only 3.7 million were reported to the police and recorded.
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
American "pick up" artist Julian Blanc has been denied entry to the country. Today is a good day!
But hey, at least Nigel Farage wouldn't have to hear as many weird foreign accents on the train!
What's precedent ever done for us?