JohnfromUK

He may well have been a fascinating man ........ but much of it was a carefully maintained illusion. He came from a very wealthy publishing family - with a successful family business and a large country estate (in Essex I believe) and a substantial town property in London's Holland Park. He was born Anthony Wedgewood Benn - and became The Honourable Anthony Wedgewood Benn when his father accepted a peerage which he shortened to Tony Benn ..... presumably to look less privileged. He should have become Viscount Stansgate on the death of his father - but he went through a procedure to renouce the title so that he could become an MP He married an American heiress Caroline DeCamp He used aggressive tax avoidance measures for his own family to mitigate against inheritance tax (whilst campaigning for the prevention of inherited wealth) Like his followers, Corbyn and McDonnell, he supported terrorists including the IRA and like Corbyn - was strongly anti the EU (right from the start) and was a strong supporter of industrial strike action to bring down governments with which he did not agree. In summary, a very typical 'Champagne socialist'.

When the prize is £39 billion, you cannot expect integrity from a politician.

One of mine is a 90 Defender - 26 years old, but it only does a few miles a year. Not passed 100,000 yet in 26 years. On a different note - good to see that Greta Thunberg didn't get the Nobel peace prize she had been tipped for. Mind you - I have never heard of the person who did win it. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7562251/Greta-Thunberg-misses-Nobel-Peace-Prize-award-given-Ethiopias-prime-minister.html

Euro compliance is (mainly) to do with emissions other than CO2 (nitrogen oxides, 'soot' particulates etc.). These are of concern (apparently) because they are allegedly detrimental to lung/bronchial health (as are wood burners, bonfires etc.) Global warming is more related to CO2 and other 'greenhouse' gasses (such as various organic gasses and vapours like methane, halogen/carbon compounds etc.) My cars are all a bit thirsty (probable average about 35 m.p.g.) - so on the face of it not very friendly .......... but in fact they are all quite old (between 12 and 26 years old), so haven't been scrapped and recycled (which is heavy on carbon) and because I only do a low mileage (typically about 6 to 8000 miles a year in total), my actual CO2 emission (which is the global warming issue) is not all that high. Overall - I think I'm pretty environmentally friendly.

Hilary Benn is not stupid - but he is very arrogant and devious - like his father (who pretended to be poor and preached socialism, but was in fact very wealthy and practised capitalism including aggressive tax avoidance). His plan is to keep delaying until they can get a majority for a remain policy. He has no interest in democracy only in getting his own way (also like his father)

I have heard (and it may be an 'old wives tale') that they mainly migrate (the over large expanses of water part anyway) when there is plenty of moon. Next full moon is 13th October, so that lines up. Late October will have little moon, and later in November may be a bit late. After they have crossed into the UK I believe they tend to move south with the wet areas of south Wales, the south west and Ireland being much boosted in populations over the winter period. We usually see them here (south midlands) increasing in numbers in November. We have a few resident ones I believe.

Well someone thinks the protest is worthy of thanks https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7558349/Now-Jeremy-Corbyn-THANKS-Extinction-Rebellion-compares-SUFFRAGETTES.html

Before I retired I worked for a large American Company. We had to undergo regular training to ensure we complied with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) which came in well before the UK Anti Bribery Act. My employers took it very seriously (as major suppliers to the US government) and we were shown (geographical) charts of where bribery was most common. Some parts of Europe did not come off well.

It doesn't seem to work like that - we have a VASTLY higher rate of University attendance than 25 years ago ......... but it doesn't seem to achieve much

You can't even get them in the UK any more I understand. You used to be able to have a voluntary one.

Many do (and very positively in some cases), a not inconsiderable number don't. No disagreement Well - there is a problem with housing, schools, medical facilities, transport etc. These are not 'fixed' in an instant (need to build, train, recruit etc.); so to take the pressure off the shortages in the shorter term, reduce demand by reducing net immigration.

They are nothing more than anarchists. We do not want anarchists (trying) to run the UK by totally undemocratic means. In fact I for one - do not want anarchists in the UK at all.

With the current UK population level, it needs to be 'managed' to the extent of being near zero. There is nothing wrong with immigration 'per say' - but there is problem when there are too many people for the infrastructure, housing, supplies, even actual space. There is also a problem where the immigrants simply come for a 'free life', to freeload on the NHS, the benefits system, free social housing - and many of the other aspects that make the UK a popular destination.

Yes - and as soon as possible

Look no further than Blair & Co, though it long pre-dated Blair, he massively encouraged it.

Exactly. Our elected representatives (the MPs in Parliament) are refusing to honour a referendum result - a referendum that they collectively agreed to hold by a large majority, and of which they 'promised' to honour the result. In a subsequent General Election BOTH main parties promised to carry through the referendum result. One party has sort of tried (in initially a very half hearted way) and the other party has now changed its mind and wants to remain (as far as we can tell from their vague statements). The 'third' (the one which calls itself 'liberal democrat' party - has declaed it will ignore the democratic result of the referendum. Despite setting a date to leave (29th March 2019) - or elected representatives have refused to honour that commitment (which was again passed by a large majority). In summary - that in a nutshell - is what has happened!

That's unusual 🤣 There are parts - i.e. the CITY (as in the square mile and more recent offshoots), it has some of the 'best' shops (like Purdeys, H&H etc. for us shooters) though now largely selling stuff made elsewhere, and it is a wonderful tourist attraction, has the finest museums, public buildings etc. But ultimately the vast majority of it by area (say inside the M25) is an overpriced DUMP - for reasons given in a previous post - and it's getting worse. No offence taken! There is some truth in what you say - but London isn't the UK; it has grown apart from the UK; Londoners now hold different views to many 'non Londoners'. Much of the 'better parts' of London are largely non residential, or owned by ultra wealthy who have homes in other parts (and often other countries).

I think London was singled out because it is very much the capital of 'Remain'. I have lived in Birmingham - no better/no worse than London in most respects overall - but London is badly worse in some areas; Grossly overpriced housing Grossly overpriced in other areas Dreadful commuting (poor public transport, overcrowding and expensive). Impossibly expensive to get about in a normal 'country type' car (low emissions zones taxes, congestion taxes) Many people I know who have to live in London (for work reasons) do so reluctantly - and if they are wealthy enough - keep a country property as well to escape at weekends. A lot have left when the opportunity arrived (despite taking a salary cut) simply because they loathed the dump it has become. Yes it has some of the worlds best museums and some great tourist traps - but most of them are now so overcrowded you have to queue for hours to visit (things like the Cabinet War Rooms etc.) I used to like the occasional visit to London (and have relatives there), but I loathe going now and they have their weekend country retreat - and I visit them there now instead.

I am - but London has different views on many things - and a great many people in London are not UK voters. Most of the UK would actually prefer London wasn't even there. Just look at the state it is in - streets blocked off by feral protesters, mayor who tacitly supports them, police powerless. It has become a dump frankly.

That may be so in Parliament. In the more rural circles I inhabit the vast majority want it done - deal or no deal.

Explanation: There is a lot of support (polite way of saying votes) for Brexit. It really is that simple!

A labour camp - and kill two birds with one stone; Teach them the meaning of hard work Gets some hardcore rocks broken up carbon free!

The real Swampy is actually there - there was a picture of him in yesterdays paper. Mind you he has short hair now - and looks a little more washed. Agreed Doubt it - too bone idle. This /\ Work is a concept they don't really understand.

That makes perfect sense - and from someone in the area. Thanks

There are some PW members from Northern Ireland (and very probably from Eire too). Perhaps they might like to comment as they are at the 'sharp end' in this?