UK News and Discussions

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

GB News starts tomorrow. It has secured financial backing from media giant Discovery and its contributors are stuffed with pro Brexit/ Spikedonline.com far right unpleasantness.

There is a connection with Discovery and Liberty Global who own Virgin Media. Perhaps UK members could be encouraged to avoid these companies or write to them expressing their displeasure.

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Irish-language row threatens to derail Northern Ireland government

Mon 14 Jun 2021

A dispute between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) over an Irish-language act is threatening to derail the Northern Ireland assembly and executive.

Arlene Foster formally resigned as first minister at 1pm on Monday but a standoff between the two biggest parties at Stormont is blocking her designated successor, Paul Givan, 39, from taking the post.

If Sinn Féin and the DUP do not resolve the crisis within seven days – by 1pm on 21 June – the devolved power-sharing institutions will collapse and there will be an early assembly election.

Edwin Poots, the DUP leader, appeared to harden his position on Monday when he declined to say if Irish-language legislation would happen during this mandate. “Time will tell,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.

Sinn Féin has demanded the long-promised legislation as part of the price of rebooting the executive after a change of DUP leadership. It has accused Poots of acting in bad faith.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... government

[Time_Traveller]

14-year-olds could be called up for new national service ‘to heal divided UK’

Monday 14 Jun 2021

A new national service could be brought in to help ‘heal the divisions’ within British society, it has been revealed.

Downing Street is reportedly looking into the idea of having 14 year olds spend a month with students from other schools and backgrounds during the school term.

The teens, from rich and poor families alike, would be put in teams of 12 to bond on camping and hiking trips, reports the Mirror.

They would also be taught new skills and perform activities that benefit their local communities.

The idea is said to have been inspired by a new book from former government education adviser Jon Yates, entitled Fractured: Why our Societies are Coming Apart and How to put them Back Together Again.

https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/14/14-year- ... i=14769035

Anyone for the 21st century version of National Service?

[joe00uk]

Anyone for the 21st century version of National Service?

Actually, this looks like a pretty good idea - although I'd say somewhere between 16-18 is a better age. I think we still have the voluntary National Citizen Service (NCS) which is for 16-17 year olds. I signed up for it when I was that age, and it was quite good fun. There were a few dropouts early on, but for the vast majority of people, it's definitely worthwhile. If the government has the resources to spare for a programme like this, I'd be all for it. Perhaps if some practical work (like some sort of farm work) was involved, it might ease the financial burden.

[Time_Traveller]

Retirees could get record state pension rise next April because of Covid - explained

16 JUN 2021

Retirees could get a record £15 added to their weekly state pension next year - but only if the Conservatives don't derail the £5billion increase.

Every year the state pension will go up by the highest of inflation, 2.5% or average wage growth under an agreement called the triple lock. All governments have backed this since it was introduced in 2010.

The triple lock is set to work in pensioners' favour next year, because wage growth rose 8.4% in the year to April, according to the Office for National Statistics this week.

This record rise in wages is because average earnings were lower during lockdown, then rose again as the country began to return to work.

An 8.4% increase would mean the current full state pension rises £15 a week. That means the current maximum of £179.60 a week would be £194.60 from April 2022.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/retirees ... e-24330635

Well don't break the pension bank Tories, the UK is still one of the lowest state pensions in Europe aren't we still?

[wjfox]

Shocking defeat for the Conservatives in this by-election.

This is equivalent to a U.S. Democrat winning in somewhere like Alabama.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... s-57472032

[Time_Traveller]

Electoral Commission to be stripped of power to prosecute after probe into Boris Johnson’s flat makeover

31 minutes ago

Boris Johnson is to strip the Electoral Commission of the power to prosecute law-breaking, just weeks after it launched an investigation into his controversial flat refurbishment.

The watchdog has been threatened with curbs ever since it embarrassed senior Tory figures by fining Vote Leave for busting spending limits for the Brexit referendum.

Now ministers have announced that a new Elections Bill will remove its ability to prosecute criminal offences under electoral law – arguing it “wastes public money”.

The watchdog launched an immediate protest, warning the move would “place a fetter on the commission which would limit its activity”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 68407.html

The Tories trying to be more corrupt by stripping the electoral commission after they launched a investigation into Johnson's flat refurbishment.

[Time_Traveller]

Wildflower meadow on White Cliffs of Dover named in honour of Dame Vera Lynn

Friday 18 June 2021

A meadow on the famous White Cliffs of Dover has been renamed in memory of beloved singer Dame Vera Lynn to mark the anniversary of her death.

The picturesque stretch of land by the sea is alive with wildflowers and songbirds and will serve as a lasting tribute to the adored wartime figure.

A lighthouse standing atop the cliffs was to be lit on Thursday in honour of Dame Vera, shining out over the English Channel after being switched on by her daughter.

Dame Vera, who entertained troops with morale-boosting visits to the front line during the Second World War, died aged 103 on June 18 2020.

Her famous lyrics “There’ll be bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover” have seen her forever associated with the beautiful Kent coastline.

https://www.itv.com/news/2021-06-17/wil ... -vera-lynn