UK Politics Thread VII: Wake me DUP inside [can't wake UUP]

[Ostroeuropa]

what a train wreck

Isnt the GFA basically part of the constitution by this point?

She told the NI Affairs Committee that she was "probably giving birth" when the agreement was first published.

lol.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Its the basis for about 80% of shit in NI, including passports. Like come on she should have read it.

[Souseiseki]

She told the NI Affairs Committee that she was "probably giving birth" when the agreement was first published.

to be fair having some direct experience with immigration is probably a good response to questions over her not being qualified

[Minoa]

It hasn't been mentioned before here that the new nationalised East Coast franchise will trade as the London North Eastern Railway (LNER).

The old LNER, which existed until the first nationalisation in 1948, used to be nicknamed the “Late and Never Early Railway” by passengers, in reference to the punctuality issues that existed at the time (source).

[Fartsniffage]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44223025

A whole article written solely so the author gets to say Super Dickmann repeatedly on the BBC.

[Vassenor]

Meanwhile, it also seems that living in the country for four decades, being married to a by-birth citizen, serving as a local councillor and even being elected mayor is not enough to prove permanent residence on a naturalisation application.

Apparently the government is already trying to force the "hostile environment" policy onto EU citizens as well.

[Trumptonium1]

It's amazing what you can do by negotiating on the phone.

Doubled my data plan and knocked off 4 quid a month, after rejecting a 1GB upgrade and 2 quid off when I told them I found a better deal elsewhere on the internet. They waffled and thought I would not switch because my parents are on the same network and millenials are known for being impatient - a 3-day PAC switch would be a huge inconvenience, particularly in exam season when I have to switch my phone off and risk waiting another week. After I requested the PAC they got me through to the manager, and now I have a 12 month contract that is better value for money than anything you could possibly find online.

My dad was surprised (he pays 14p/m for 4GB) and we both thought it would be fun to call our broadband supplier (Virgin) because the contract is nearing renewal and we're paying 43 p/m for 150mbps (although get 170mbps - Virgin are great, I have no intention of switching either way.) But they are advertising VIVID 200 for 37 p/m and VIVID 350 for 42 p/m, both obviously better. I asked if I can get a deal, but was told they are for new customers only. Fine, I called the cancellation line saying I was intending to take up BT 150 mbps offer for 32 per month (worth it).

They said they could not match it, but they can give me a discount for a SIM deal (to an even lower than the already discounted deal they're offering online I referred to - they knew because I called yesterday). I said I want to cancel anyway. The clock ticks and 15 minutes later we are now getting the 200 mbps deal for 37 pounds and the upfront 20 fee waived.

108 pounds a year saved in 45 minutes with larger data plans and a faster broadband. What's not to like?

---

Here's the question though - why are companies even allowed to charge standard variable rates, be it gas/water or phone, when they have cheaper advertised deals that are available to everybody?

Surely it is within Ofcom's remit to examine whether it is in any way an acceptable business practice to take a customer's silence on the matter of contract renewals as an express approval of moving to higher prices than what is publicly advertised?

Thankfully Ofcom has been getting more involved in intervening in the market to regulate it (I am reasonably open to limited government interference when it is in the objective welfare of society) and has in the last month fined TalkTalk (FUCK TalkTalk) for inappropriate length of customer service waiting times and bad customer service in general and also told Virgin to drop their early cancellation fees because 250 was judged to be too high. There's more to do on this matter, however.

I also think Ofcom, Ofwat, Ofgem and all the other ofpenpushers should be merged into one public authority whose sole remit will be looking at the general pricing levels for living essentials in this country, including supermarkets, and having the powers to regulate as some sort of all-country 'union'. That's maximum bargaining power and economies of scale and good for everybody.

[MERIZoC]

what a train wreck

"We're here to talk about shit in NI, and have you read this thing, this very important thing for NI that ties into what we are discussing?"

"Un...No"

"..."

The contempt towards Northern Ireland is only matched by the sheer incompetence of everyone in the government. Reads like an episode of The Thick of It.

[The Huskar Social Union]

what a train wreck

"We're here to talk about shit in NI, and have you read this thing, this very important thing for NI that ties into what we are discussing?"

"Un...No"

"..."

The contempt towards Northern Ireland is only matched by the sheer incompetence of everyone in the government. Reads like an episode of The Thick of It.

Yup : D

[The Yeomanry]

I also think Ofcom, Ofwat, Ofgem and all the other ofpenpushers should be merged into one public authority whose sole remit will be looking at the general pricing levels for living essentials in this country, including supermarkets, and having the powers to regulate as some sort of all-country 'union'. That's maximum bargaining power and economies of scale and good for everybody.

Hello, that's the gem of a good idea.

Sure, the basis of everything is that when you can barter with the person who owns the thing, you can usually get the price knocked off if they are reasonable and you're not dumb. I bought a bed and mattress last year and I wanted to get model X but model X was out of stock. So a bit of sly discussion and I got the upgrade for the same price as model X — because I was talking with the man who owned the warehouse and not some chump in a cashier polo shirt. The only difference is that sometimes the customer relations drones are allowed to offer discounts to people to keep them with the company.

A public regulator to talk to owners on behalf of the public would be a good thing, I guess. It would not be that un-English either. This country has long had codes mandating certain market quality. The only difference is that in medieval times if you sold bad beer you'd be put in the stocks. Maybe we should put Morrisons in the stocks. But it wouldn't do any good, tbh. This country is rotten, so any kind of public intervention becomes rotten. You've got to kill the cancer first.

[Imperializt Russia]

The harder border needs to be between Northern Ireland and Britain, Northern Ireland needs to closely match the customs arrangements of the EU, the nearest border areas should be part of a joint co-managed economic zone, and Britain needs special rules to facilitate small traders and tourist travel with minimal disruption, with large companies more heavily regulated to prevent the border becoming too much of a back-route for large-scale untariffed EU goods. Not perfect but it'll do.

Also, I bid one magic bean and a sock.

While this solves the issue of cross-border trade in Ireland, the DUP is seeking to firmly stonewall any agreement that distinguishes Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Such as, implementing the border between the UK and NI.

This is why Brexit was stupid. It is unachievable without imposing several things on constituent states and bodies that absolutely will not fucking stand for it, because the UK consists of more than Westminster and the southeast.

[The Huskar Social Union]

The harder border needs to be between Northern Ireland and Britain, Northern Ireland needs to closely match the customs arrangements of the EU, the nearest border areas should be part of a joint co-managed economic zone, and Britain needs special rules to facilitate small traders and tourist travel with minimal disruption, with large companies more heavily regulated to prevent the border becoming too much of a back-route for large-scale untariffed EU goods. Not perfect but it'll do.

Also, I bid one magic bean and a sock.

While this solves the issue of cross-border trade in Ireland, the DUP is seeking to firmly stonewall any agreement that distinguishes Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Such as, implementing the border between the UK and NI.

This is why Brexit was stupid. It is unachievable without imposing several things on constituent states and bodies that absolutely will not fucking stand for it, because the UK consists of more than Westminster and the southeast.

Unless its to do with Gay Marriage, Abortion or Language Acts.

[Imperializt Russia]

Here's the question though - why are companies even allowed to charge standard variable rates, be it gas/water or phone, when they have cheaper advertised deals that are available to everybody?

Well, because capitalism.

I also think Ofcom, Ofwat, Ofgem and all the other ofpenpushers should be merged into one public authority whose sole remit will be looking at the general pricing levels for living essentials in this country, including supermarkets, and having the powers to regulate as some sort of all-country 'union'. That's maximum bargaining power and economies of scale and good for everybody.

I'm kinda shocked because it turns out we do actually agree on something.

I mean I disagree that all the organisations should be "merged" because the inevitable implementation would be more work on a smaller workforce after the rounds of redundancies leading to massive fuckups. But yes, they should, as an "Office of Regulators" umbrella group, collectively bargain and regulate their respective industries.
Though one would argue, how many steps removed is this from just nationalising all industries?

[Fartsniffage]

British government furious that Brexit means Brexit.

[Vassenor]

British government furious that Brexit means Brexit.

Well, yeah. The whole thing has been very much a case of wanting to have our cake and eat it. We want out, but we don't want to lose the benefits of being in and expect them to just be given to us because we're special.

[Dumb Ideologies]

British government furious that Brexit means Brexit.

Well, yeah. The whole thing has been very much a case of wanting to have our cake and eat it. We want out, but we don't want to lose the benefits of being in and expect them to just be given to us because we're special.

Some of us are, of course, distinctly more "special" than the average.

[Trumptonium1]

Meanwhile, it also seems that living in the country for four decades, being married to a by-birth citizen, serving as a local councillor and even being elected mayor is not enough to prove permanent residence on a naturalisation application.

Apparently the government is already trying to force the "hostile environment" policy onto EU citizens as well.

Her fault for not applying for a 8 pound PR card.

[Mostrov]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44221469

Despite the fact that there are, I understand, proportionally more BAME students than the general population, even if lower than the average for other universities, there is still claims of lack of diversity.

The irony on this anecdotally, that everyone (tutors &c.) I have spoken too has told me of people bending over backwards to accommodate black students, and that the reasons for paucity it is twofold that they simply don't apply and that when they do they are often of a lower standard than other ethnicities (and often accepted regardless).

I find it quite absurd that an élite institution of a nation doesn't wish to cater, primarily, to that nations native population, as does, say, the University of Tokyo or Peking University.

More particularly, that when we speak of 'diversity' it only seems to count for black people—despite other minority ethnicities outperforming native-born students—and that whenever anything goes against them (despite absurdities such as the recent BBC production of Troy, where the only minority represented, was again, black; showing their over-representation in the media) they make cries of 'systemic racism'. Its as if there is a rachet, that only goes one way.

[Dumb Ideologies]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44221469

Despite the fact that there are, I understand, proportionally more BAME students than the general population, even if lower than the average for other universities, there is still claims of lack of diversity.

The irony on this anecdotally, that everyone (tutors &c.) I have spoken too has told me of people bending over backwards to accommodate black students, and that the reasons for paucity it is twofold that they simply don't apply and that when they do they are often of a lower standard than other ethnicities (and often accepted regardless).

I find it quite absurd that an élite institution of a nation doesn't wish to cater, primarily, to that nations native population, as does, say, the University of Tokyo or Peking University.

More particularly, that when we speak of 'diversity' it only seems to count for black people—despite other minority ethnicities outperforming native-born students—and that whenever anything goes against them (despite absurdities such as the recent BBC production of Troy, where the only minority represented, was again, black; showing their over-representation in the media) they make cries of 'systemic racism'. Its as if there is a rachet, that only goes one way.

Good post. Some parallels I think with the way we seem culturally obsessed with getting more women into STEM subjects but comparatively silent on trying to rectify the inequalities in all the areas that girls are doing substantially better in education - or, to put it another way - boys are systematically underperforming. Prevailing ideological lenses lead us to view girls not doing so well as "naturally" the result of bias or oppression, whereas if boys underperform it must be purely individual defects of character as they're supposedly on the "privileged" side of the false dichotomy. As such some stories of inequality are presented as lamentable and meriting social and education policy action, while others are made unproblematic or even into "good news stories".

[Imperializt Russia]

Meanwhile, it also seems that living in the country for four decades, being married to a by-birth citizen, serving as a local councillor and even being elected mayor is not enough to prove permanent residence on a naturalisation application.

Apparently the government is already trying to force the "hostile environment" policy onto EU citizens as well.

Her fault for not applying for a 8 pound PR card.

If a permanent residency card (which she argues she was never suggested it be necessary to acquire, given her status of indefinite leave to remain) really costs £8, why on earth does citizenship cost £1200-2000?

[Trumptonium1]

Her fault for not applying for a 8 pound PR card.

If a permanent residency card (which she argues she was never suggested it be necessary to acquire, given her status of indefinite leave to remain) really costs £8,

I don't really know why she had ILR in the first place. Seems like an admin mistake

why on earth does citizenship cost £1200-2000?

Naturalisation costs 1500-1600. PR/ILR costs 2k-2.2k.

Most of it is "Migrants Impact Levy" but the entire sum is pocketed by the home office and none of the FoI's ever revealed its distribution.

But it's pretty obvious it's a general fund for covering Home Office costs because even services like "renunciation of nationality" cost 350, a copy of a certificate is 234 and the priority service is 10 500. They also charge 5.50 for every email if you're applying for a visa (you have to pay to receive an email from them which asks questions regarding your application, you get notified one is ready) and they also charge something like 4 pounds a minute for phone calls.

They made around a billion from natursaliation which funds most HO capital spending
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42771667

[Trumptonium1]

So Boris Johnson had an 18 minute phone call with a prankster pretending to be the new Armenian Prime Minister where he discussed sensitive information re: Russia & Salisbury poisoning, congratulated him for winning the election, discussed UK-Armenia trade relations and was 'intrigued' by the caller saying Jeremy Corbyn is on Kremlin payroll.

Mr Johnson also jokes about the number of Russian oligarchs living in London.

"You throw a stone in Kensington and you'll hit an oligarch, some of them are close to Putin and some of them aren't," he says.

The Foreign Office said Mr Johnson realised the call was a hoax.

It added: "We checked it out and knew immediately it was a prank call. The use of chemical weapons in Salisbury and Syria, and recent events in Armenia are serious matters.

"These childish actions show the lack of seriousness of the caller and those behind him."

[Trumptonium1]

You can listen to this shit here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xCkORaqbus

This is hilarious

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Why do we have income tax bands rather than just a formula that you just plug your income into? I can't think of any advantages other than not scaring people afraid of maths?

[The Liberated Territories]

So Boris Johnson had an 18 minute phone call with a prankster pretending to be the new Armenian Prime Minister where he discussed sensitive information re: Russia & Salisbury poisoning, congratulated him for winning the election, discussed UK-Armenia trade relations and was 'intrigued' by the caller saying Jeremy Corbyn is on Kremlin payroll.

Mr Johnson also jokes about the number of Russian oligarchs living in London.

"You throw a stone in Kensington and you'll hit an oligarch, some of them are close to Putin and some of them aren't," he says.

The Foreign Office said Mr Johnson realised the call was a hoax.

It added: "We checked it out and knew immediately it was a prank call. The use of chemical weapons in Salisbury and Syria, and recent events in Armenia are serious matters.

"These childish actions show the lack of seriousness of the caller and those behind him."

Based BJ