Current Affairs

[towny44]

I don't disagree with your first point, there was a short-sighted minority willing to accept anything they could call 'brexit' irrespective of the damage and cost to the UK economy. Even another brexiteer on this site referred to the deal (even before Johnson surrendered all the UKs red lines) as a deal that 'satisfied nobody' ... I disagree I believe Johnsons final deal did satisfy those, and only those, with a 'brexit at all costs' mentality. That is exactly what Johnson has delivered ... ironically with more shackles than before.

Unlike asinine comparisons such as 'Corbyn would have been worse', economic modelling and comparison with similar economies will be able to highlight the highs and lows and give a fair estimate of the UKs decline, stagnation or (hopefully) progress. Such as in 2020, unlike most of the world, the UK economy failed to recover and stagnated; in the first half of 2021 it made significant progress towards catching up, but that recovery declined in the second half of 2021.

How is it that the IMF and other economic institutions, all agree that the UK has been in 2021, and will remain so in 2022, the fastest growing economy in the G7. If you are correct Ken then I think you're wasting your time in your current job, you should be in charge of the IMF.

There is absolutely nothing in your post that contradicts anything I have said .. are you struggling with your comprehension again?

No problem with comprehension when its accurately given, the focus and delivery of yours mirrors the downbeat BBC news presentation, whereas mine is far more upbeat and realistic.

[oldbluefox]

It's not going to happen overnight but parity with London and the South East is welcomed.
Pleased to see that car manufacturers in the North East have remained (contrary to project fear) and indeed are developing their models further whilst a new development in Blythe will be employing thousands of workers in the production of batteries.
Hopefully as the plan is rolled out further we may see more investment in the more depressed areas of the North West and Cumbria.
Announcement of freeports, sounds good to me.

[Onelife]

There will be many who are sceptical about how the levelling up plan will work in practice but it’s a step in the right direction, Imo, sending a clear message that London and the South are not entitled to the lion’s share of the country’s wealth and prosperity.

[oldbluefox]

Kay Burley this morning - "but what about Tower Hamlets"?
They don't get it do they?
I can tell you there are some pretty depressed areas in the North which have literally nothing. I also realise there are quite a few elsewhere too so maybe it's time to share the cake a little more fairly.

[Bensham33]

It's his birthday today.

https://fb.watch/aWlXUcc-Sp/

[Onelife]

It's his birthday today.

https://fb.watch/aWlXUcc-Sp/

.... but best not save him any cake

[Kendhni]

How is it that the IMF and other economic institutions, all agree that the UK has been in 2021, and will remain so in 2022, the fastest growing economy in the G7. If you are correct Ken then I think you're wasting your time in your current job, you should be in charge of the IMF.

There is absolutely nothing in your post that contradicts anything I have said .. are you struggling with your comprehension again?

No problem with comprehension when its accurately given, the focus and delivery of yours mirrors the downbeat BBC news presentation, whereas mine is far more upbeat and realistic.

So I was right there is no contradiction between your post and mine and the issue is your comprehension skills. The information I gave was accurate and provided neither a positive nor a negative light on anything, just some basic simple facts. I have told you several times before that you need to actually read the post before you respond to it.

[Kendhni]

It's not going to happen overnight but parity with London and the South East is welcomed.
Pleased to see that car manufacturers in the North East have remained (contrary to project fear) and indeed are developing their models further whilst a new development in Blythe will be employing thousands of workers in the production of batteries.

Indeed good news, however we have to be careful not to count our chickens just yet. In the financial services industry somewhere between 8000 and 25000 jobs have already been lost (depending on how you count them), with many of the companies saying that they have not yet taken a decision on what to do (they are playing a waiting game) ... which is good news because it means the government has time to actually do something and prove we are where they want to be.

Hopefully as the plan is rolled out further we may see more investment in the more depressed areas of the North West and Cumbria.
Announcement of freeports, sounds good to me.

I wonder why the UK chose to do away with its freeports ... we had 7 up until 2012? I think it may have been to reduce money laundering and smuggling, but not sure.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Thank goodness for a 6 o'clock news bulletin lead by something more positive than bleating about parties. And yet still some people aren't happy.

[oldbluefox]

I think the EU freeports suffered from limitations imposed by the EU themselves so they weren't exactly what was intended.

"The UK will, however, have more freedom over the flexibilities and tax concessions it can offer in free zones. This is because EU freeports are governed by the Union Customs Code as well as by EU rules on state aid, which stop member states using selective tax exemptions and financial incentives to distort competition".

[Kendhni]

I know the EU brought in some legislation last year to tighten up controls on their 80+ freeports, but thought that was being driven by anti-terror legislation.

[barney]

Paul Given intends to resign apparently closing down the NI Parliament.
The Protocol is clearly in conflict with the Belfast Agreement and needs to be put in the bin.
The EU and U.K. government should never had made an agreement without the consent of the NI Parliament.
It’s actually in breach of the Agreement that they think it’s upholding.

[Kendhni]

While it was expected it could be painful for many
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/uk-en ... 15406.html
This is the equivalent of £58 per month increase.

I see Sunak is to hold a press conference later ... will be interesting to see what he has to say.

[david63]

The comment that I like today, and I have seen/heard it several times is "If you use more gas/electricity your bills will be higher" - isn't that stating the obvious?

[barney]

I came out of contract on 22nd January.
I’ll be watching with interest.
I’m with Shell Energy and Shell just declared £12 billion profit in 3 months so I expect they will absorb it.

[Stephen]

I just use next doors

[david63]

I just use next doors

Apparently they are quite happy about that because they are using yours and they use more than you do

[Stephen]

So they think….
Keep it yourself but it’s their meter rigged up in my outside box

[Gill W]

Johnson overstepped the mark with his slur against Starmer the other day in parliament - it seems his head of policy has agreed with this view - she has resigned

[screwy]

We could have had Shale gas.!

[Onelife]

Johnson overstepped the mark with his slur against Starmer the other day in parliament - it seems his head of policy has agreed with this view - she has resigned

Simple case of her not checking her facts…at least she has done the honourable thing.

[Kendhni]

Johnson overstepped the mark with his slur against Starmer the other day in parliament - it seems his head of policy has agreed with this view - she has resigned

Simple case of her not checking her facts…at least she has done the honourable thing.

What got me is that the conservatives wheeled out several people to support Johnsons comments, and, while they said that he had done nothing wrong, not one of them was willing to repeat the accusation outside of parliament privilege ... a sure sign that they had the same lack of integrity as their leader. It was actually really embarrassing watching these people reduced to the same bluster and bumbling as Johnson.

I thought I had seen a headline on one of my feeds that Johnson had withdrawn the slur, but I still haven't seen it make one of his daily apology briefings ... at this rate he may have to hold 2 apology briefings every day.

[Gill W]

Simple case of her not checking her facts…at least she has done the honourable thing.

She didn’t advise him to say it

[Gill W]

I thought I had seen a headline on one of my feeds that Johnson had withdrawn the slur, but I still haven't seen it make one of his daily apology briefings ... at this rate he may have to hold 2 apology briefings every day.

It’s a backpedaling, rather than a apology for saying it or a withdrawal.

BBC now announcing that Johnson’s director of communications has resigned.

Things seem to be derailing

[screwy]

I’m thinking of not bothering watching the news anymore.

I’ll just check on here .