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First we should decide what it is for. Maybe, subsistence or comfort? Then decide what we can afford. If people are living a lot longer and there are a lot more of them with a smaller population paying for them then something has to give. I don't know the answer but buying votes by paying unaffordable is certainly unsustainable. I can understand a desire for that approach but removing civil rights, lowering standards and the use of force is the way of authoritarian government. A basic (Obama care style) NHS geared to keeping people in work, would have benefits. The additional service paid for by ourselves. Nothing for pensioners other than that which will reduce the cost of maintenance for the state. Cut the state yes. Start with the lords the monarchy and rethink the taxation system. With immigration a simple statement of what we want in the UK to support the country. A clear process of how you apply and a mechanism for refugees would be a huge step forward. Support for integration and employment.

🤣 Please. It's a lawless failed state. There are no metrics for the economy to even measure performance.

I guess it's carry on until the legislation is brought to ban either lead, plastic or both. This gradual tightening of control and protection of the environment is happening across the board. We have to start somewhere.

I have not proposed anything other than we need to generate more income or cut benefits. So whats your answer? by A Indelicato · 2023 · Cited by 7 — In summary, Europeans' attitudes towards immigrants tend to be positive when they are the moderate left-wing electorate while voting for right- ...

So no ideas then? That's the nail on the head. We are all too quick to blame anyone and everything rather than ourselves whilst at the same time we are incapable of taking the steps needed to tackle the fundamental issues. Meanwhile Russia stokes the flames of discontent.

So whats the answer? Imagine in a right wing wet dream we were able to send every illegal migrant back to where ever they had come from. We are still faced with a shortage of workers. We have a population imbalance. Too many old people paid too much pension. Pension paid too early, a health care system we cannot afford. A military on it's knees an inadequate education system. Somewhere we need to get more workers or cut services or generate significantly more income. It's not going to happen from reducing migration.

Why do you think 'these people' are any different from anyone else? Why do some see them as different? 50% of asylum migrants are in work compared to 70% of UK born nationals. 21% of asylum migrants will be self employed compared to just 14% of UK born. Its clear the UK either needs more workers paying tax or less benefits being paid (particularly pensions) and services cut (particularly NHS). Maybe a solution would be to look at policies of integration rather than alienation. you may find this report helpful to better understand the situation. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2019-04-25-new-report-explores-barriers-employment-refugees-and-‘asylum-migrant

It's been a while since I was around there 😁 Still Hinkley is not so far and good to see it's still a British brand at heart.

I read something interesting today about migration to the US across the border from Mexico. The article was saying that rather than crack down on the crossings, the government would be more successful concentrating on the employers exploiting the illegal employment of migrants. Without employment then the problem would be mostly solved. There was no willingness to do this as the migrants were a lucrative source of labour.

Now that is a machine. 👍 @r1steele Are they still made at Meriden?

Yes. Stand up and be counted.

Russia is attacking the West. State sanctioned killings. Election interference. Bribing leaders and politicians. Andrew Perpetuas team analyses daily video footage counting hard assets losses of both sides from social media. Each listed kill is directly linked to video evidence. Troop loses are more difficult to evaluate. The data from Ukraine is far more evidenced (with a verification process) than the Russian numbers. It's looking increasingly likely that Ukraine will not be on it's own. Fortunately it looks like loony tune trump has alienated enough women and true republicans (according to fox) to be a looser come November. Global conflict is inevitable if Ukraine were to loose. Even winning will do little for world stability. Global conflict is fuelled by Russia's aggression and bolstered by Trump's weakness. China is waiting in the wings for Taiwan. Trumps recent sell out to Jeff Yass (merger for Truth social) and his sudden about turn on Tik Tok ban (part owned by Yass) spotlight his further indebtedness to China. Shrewd move by sleepy Joe to bolster US chip manufacture.

I doubt the figures from Zelensky are true. March was a record month for destroyed Russian motorised vehicles at 1546 (visually confirmed). The drone strike's 1200km into Russia two days ago, together with the refinery attacks, the Czechia initiative, the increasing support in Europe are all good signs for Ukraine . The Russian use of tanks from the 50's, the depletion of storage sites, the scavenging of artillery barrels are all evidence of a reducing capability. I see the data come in pretty much every day and the Russian losses are vast. It's clear that Russia does not have the man power or equipment or financial resources to defeat Ukraine. The question for the West is do we have the resource and staying power to push them back. What will Putin do when faced with the end? Whatever the truth of it, it's a sad loss of life and Putin must be defeated. Let's hope Trump is defeated in November and the US can regain its position as a superpower.

This is so clearly not the case. If it were Putin would have no need for the 150k mobilisation just listed. Even Russia confirms 300k dead. If there were a surplus of munitions Russia would use them but it cant so it has not got the supplies. The latest stuff taken out has been made in the last few days. They are running out of reserves and stock piles. Doubt the data just look at the video count. Only this week a 100 armoured taken out in just two days. The numbers are there. Trying to demilitarise Ukraine is like trying to take out Hamas. One down and 2 in its place. Trump is a Putin puppet and truth central now owned by byte dance.

^^^^^^ This. Not sure Putin's demise will be enough looking at the FSB grooming of replacements. The attrition of Russian cannon fodder is unreal and it's clear that that much of the munition fire rate (apart from artillery) is limited to production rates. Maybe there is hope from within Russian society standing together against their own slaughter. The only good we can hope from this is that we are seeing a far stronger European commitment to self defence.

Laugh all you like. The right says the BBC is left. The left say it is right. The majority of the News desk reporters are from right leaning journalist sources. They are of course not allowed to express a view. At least where its happening the Russians are paying a premium for the benefit. Mark up on mark up. Legal cases on some of those exports are starting to happen. Russia is doing so well on it's fuel exports that it has blocked the sale of diesel. On it's crude it's trading in Yuan and even this is now suspect with secondary sanctions against China banks. Ukraine is not rapidly loosing ground and the cost of advance to Russia, where it happens, is extreme. If you are following Andrew Perpetua, he is documenting loses at 7 to 1 visually confirmed. There can be no ceasefire only a Ukraine win. If Russia wins we will all be shedding blood.

Now i see. 👍

Looking at the book (which is not so great) it could be either distinguished by its song. More restricted to mature woodland. Both described as summer visitors this is the picture from the book it looks almost identical.

Thanks Yellow Bear 👍 I had the bird book out looking at the pics and it's not so obvious (to me) from the pic. good news is after sitting on the bench for half an hour its flown off.

Crashed into my window. Very small around the size of a wren?

👍 Disappointed that a life time of service was not followed up with an OBE 😞

And pesky pensioners.

The current rise of labour is a reflection of a dissatisfaction with the tories. The opposite was true of the last swing to the Tories. It is what the UK needs to keep things somewhere in the centre whilst we get to grips with our diminishing world role. Looking across Europe there is a rise in right wing anti immigration politics much of which is funded by Russia. Russia is winning the information war is winning by sowing the seeds of discontent. I am sure Reform will no doubt be on the same trajectory. The problem for the extremes of politics is holding the position together coupled with the lack of any positive offer. A great example (I hope) is the collapse and infighting of the Ultra MAGA position in the states. We have to hope that the current galvanising of the European politicians and the shift to a war time footing, together with the grinding sanctions, will be enough to hold the Russian advance. At least for now until Biden can get additional resources released.

Is that stuff mostly with the EA? Unfortunately all that stuff has been chopped in the name of costs savings. I am close to Cheddar reservoir. When the water bans started last year I wrote to the water authority telling them they had no right to bring in a ban (they did not) as they had a reservoir extension in the plan for the last 20 years and have not built it. I was invited to join a residents panel to work on the plan. 🤣 The problem with the one hear none of the locals want it even though they all cherish the reservoirs as part of the 'natural' landscape.