UK News and Discussions

[Time_Traveller]

Wales' first minister set to lose confidence vote

4 June 2024

First Minister Vaughan Gething looks set to lose a vote of no confidence in his leadership later, after one of his members said that two Labour colleagues are off sick.

The Conservatives called the Senedd vote after months of rows over donations to Mr Gething’s leadership campaign from a company owned by a man previously convicted of environmental offences.

Vikki Howells, the chair of the Labour group of Members of the Senedd (MSs), told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that two members are currently unwell.

She said Vaughan Gething would not stand down if he lost, saying it was a “gimmick” and it was up to the “voting public to decide who is in the Senedd”.

Mr Gething would not have to resign if he loses, Ms Howells said.

Plaid Cymru accused Mr Gething of treating the Senedd with contempt.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv224x3pmv9o

Looks like its not going well for FM Gething.

[Powers]

[Time_Traveller]

Asda co-owner Zuber Issa sells his stake to private equity company TDR Capital

Friday 7 June 2024 15:34, UK



A key co-owner of Asda has sold his stake to a private equity company, making it the majority owner.

Zuber Issa, the co-chief executive, sold his 22.5% share in Asda to private equity backer TDR Capital.

Now TDR is the majority owner, controlling 67.5% of the supermarket group.

The deal is set to be completed in the third quarter of this year, the company said.

https://news.sky.com/story/asda-co-owne ... l-13149376

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

god no tax the billionaires

[Time_Traveller]

Toby Jones criticises the dehumanisation of refugees: ‘We talk about boats, not people’

1 hour ago

The Bafta-winning actor Toby Jones has criticised the dehumanisation of refugees arriving in the UK in boats.

Jones, 57, who recently starred in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, took issue with the constant references to “boats”, rather than the people in them, in discussions about the number of small boats crossing the channel into the UK.

“We talk about boats. We don’t talk about people anymore, because that’s harder to talk about. But often these things aren’t actually boats, they’re inflatables that barely survive afloat,” he said in an interview with The Guardian. “And they’re full of individuals with the same hopes, dreams and ambitions as the rest of us.”

In the lead-up to the 4 July general election, right-wing party Reform UK announced a six-point programme to “Stop The Boats”, while the Conservative party features the same slogan in its election manifesto.

“The issue [of refugees] is often treated with such binary attitudes, the situation is caricatured and misrepresented,” said Jones. “But whatever anyone thinks, we have unaccompanied young people, at the start of their lives, who need support.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ente ... 59652.html

This isn't technically political but he does state a point on the subject.

[Time_Traveller]

Douglas Ross to resign as leader of Scottish Conservatives

10 June 2024, 09:48 BST

Douglas Ross has announced he will resign as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

He will carry on in the role until after the election and will also resign as an MSP if he is re-elected to Westminster.

It follows a row over Mr Ross standing as a candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East instead of David Duguid, who has been in hospital and was in effect de-selected.

Mr Ross said he originally thought he could continue to serve as an MSP and MP as well as party leader, but said "on reflection, that is not feasible".

He was the only MSP to also serve as an MP in the current Holyrood session before the UK Parliament dissolved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceddenl8xz4o

[Time_Traveller]

Nigel Farage’s Reform just a point behind Tories new poll released after Rishi Sunak’s manifesto launch shows

3 minutes ago

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party is just a point behind the Tories, a new poll released after Rishi Sunak’s manifesto launch shows.

The survey, by YouGov, puts Labour on 38, the Tories on 18, Reform 17, Lib Dems 15 and Greens 8.

Rishi Sunak unveiled pledges on tax cuts as he sought to turn the tide of his disastrous election campaign.

The prime minister promised to cut national insurance by 2p, and scrap it entirely within five years for the self-employed.

Labour hit back at the plans, saying they would lead to higher borrowing, rising interest rates and ultimately “4,800 more on your mortgage”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 60712.html

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

So, eventually within a few years or at least the beginning of it, the car combustion would be getting rid off and replaced by electric engines?

[wjfox]

So, eventually within a few years or at least the beginning of it, the car combustion would be getting rid off and replaced by electric engines?

There'll still be ICE (internal combustion engine) cars around. Labour's policy is referring to sales of the newest cars.

Given the average lifespan of a car today, I'd imagine it will take until 2045-50 before ICE cars are disappearing from UK roads. Even then, there'll be vintage cars that might be granted an exception. Plus, ICE cars from abroad that are travelling into the UK. Complete global phase-out will probably take until the 2060s or thereabouts.

[weatheriscool]

[Time_Traveller]

There is one in my home city of Gloucester but how many will actually become MPs, I think 1-3 at least.

[firestar464]

ughhhhhhhh

[Cyber_Rebel]

Lol, wut? Are things that bad across the pond?

AI candidate running for Parliament in the U.K. says AI can humanize politics
Voters can talk to AI Steve, whose name will be on the ballot for the U.K.'s general election next month, to ask policy questions or raise concerns.

NBC News

An artificial intelligence candidate is on the ballot for the United Kingdom’s general election next month.

“AI Steve,” represented by Sussex businessman Steve Endacott, will appear on the ballot alongside non-AI candidates running to represent constituents in the Brighton Pavilion area of Brighton and Hove, a city on England's southern coast.

“AI Steve is the AI co-pilot,” Endacott said in an interview. “I’m the real politician going into Parliament, but I’m controlled by my co-pilot.”

Endacott is the chairman of Neural Voice, a company that creates personalized voice assistants for businesses in the form of an AI avatar. Neural Voice's technology is behind AI Steve, one of the seven characters the company created to showcase its technology.

He said the idea is to use AI to create a politician who is always around to talk with constituents and who can take their views into consideration.

People can ask AI Steve questions or share their opinions on Endacott's policies on its website, during which a large language model will give answers in voice and text based on a database of information about his party’s policies.

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Is it just me, or does Steve kind of resemble Keir Starmer? Has any Londoners here actually tried asking Steve about their concerns? How is this even viewed in the U.K.?

If it wins, “AI Steve” will be represented by businessman Steve Endacott in Parliament. Endacott says he’ll merely be a conduit, and the AI will make the policy decisions. - Wired

I often joke that even today's A.I. would be better than some choices (looks apprehensively at Reform), but what's stopping someone from "finetuning" their political A.I. if it gives an output they don't like? Don't think we're quite there yet for A.I. in this capacity.

[firestar464]

It's possible that this candidacy may be more of an attempt to get people to think, as in more of a statement.

[Powers]

It's possible that this candidacy may be more of an attempt to get people to think, as in more of a statement.

Seems more like a marketing ploy or at least in part.

[wjfox]

God help us all if this man becomes our PM.

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Nigel Farage says he’s aiming to be candidate for PM by 2029 ahead of Reform manifesto launch – UK general election live

Mon 17 Jun 2024 12.21 BST

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/li ... ction-live

[firestar464]

This is why Labour and friends have ONE shot at fixing the country; else it is Trumpism (Faragism?) after that.