Current Affairs

[Onelife]

Could we not use our gold reserves to plug the gap.

Who was it who coined the phrase “sell low and regret it ever since” ?

[oldbluefox]

Was it Mob?

[Manoverboard]

Was it Mob?

Wasn't me ... surely it was some d**k head in the Post Attlee Labour Party

[Kendhni]

Dangling the tax cut carrot is all very well but the money to pay for everything has to come from somewhere.

What is given in one hand you can guarantee will be taken with the other, and some.

…or just add a bit more to the 82 billion in interest we pay each year on Government borrowing.

... and rising ... I think this country (and others) have been shaking that magic money tree far too much in the last few years ... some was much needed, some was inevitable, some was self inflicted and some simply because of a general lack of desire to take responsibility (as much the publics fault as the governments).

I grew up believing it was only Labour that had a magic money tree, this government has proven that the tory magic money tree is even more generous in releasing its fruit. The note that read "I'm afraid there is no money" is significantly more applicable today than it was 12 years ago.

I am hoping that whoever wins this battle will take proper control of the economy and many other aspects of government that just do not appear to be working properly at the minute (for various reasons).

[Kendhni]

On a different topic, and apologies to Gill who normally keeps us informed, it appears that over 200,000 people have now died in the UK 'from' COVID.
A very sad statistic that equates to almost than 1 in every 330 people.

The graph of deaths over time, while not as steep as previously, is still quite steep ... and there is an expectation of another wave soon.

[screwy]

All I can say is Thanks for the Vaccines.! A lot more would have died without.

[Manoverboard]

All I can say is Thanks for the Vaccines.! A lot more would have died without.

Absolutely ... may I ask if you take cough mixture for your resultant cough ?

[Onelife]

On a different topic, and apologies to Gill who normally keeps us informed, it appears that over 200,000 people have now died in the UK 'from' COVID.
A very sad statistic that equates to almost than 1 in every 330 people.

The graph of deaths over time, while not as steep as previously, is still quite steep ... and there is an expectation of another wave soon.

I think most have now resigned themselves to the fact that if the messenger of death comes knocking you don’t have a lot of choice in the matter.

[Stephen]

Onelife
I think most have now resigned themselves to the fact that if the messenger of death comes knocking you don’t have a lot of choice in the matter.

Hopefully I'll get a drink out of Merv before the grim reaper comes a calling..............but I fear there is little hope.

[barney]

A friend of ours Husband is currently very poorly with Covid and was taken in to hospital yesterday.
He hasn’t been vaccinated although she’s had all three and her experience was relatively mild in comparison.
Lesson learned ?

[Stephen]

Foolish man, but hopefully he'll make a full recovery.

[Gill W]

On a different topic, and apologies to Gill who normally keeps us informed, it appears that over 200,000 people have now died in the UK 'from' COVID.
A very sad statistic that equates to almost than 1 in every 330 people.

The graph of deaths over time, while not as steep as previously, is still quite steep ... and there is an expectation of another wave soon.

Hi Ken, I noticed that as well, and it comes from the ONS, so it is the most accurate figure we have. It's a huge figure and leaves so manty bereaved families and friends. We can only be thankful that the rate of deaths has slowed down.

However, there are still lots of hazards ahead.

In the short term, are large waves of infection every couple of months sustainable. Zoe is estimating the current daily infection rate at 350000 per day which is as high as it's ever been. As I think I said, probably this time last year, society begins to struggle when people are getting ill all the time. Businesses can't function properly, it puts more strain on the health services and events get cancelled. Living with it, in the sense that the majority mean, i.e ignoring it, doesn't seem to be working very well.

It would be bad enough if it was just acute illness, - but there's medium and long term problems that will need to be addressed. Even 'mild' cases of covid, can lead to long covid. Not to mention other post covid health problems that are being registered - unusual illnesses, blood clots, strokes, cognition problems, organ damage and others. All of which strains the health services even more.

That's not all - many now believe that multiple infections actually damage the immune system. So the more times you get it, the more likely you are to experience the problems mentioned above.

Unless things change rapidly, things will get very dicey when we have to cope with a population of chronically sick people. This applies to all western countries, not just the UK

There are things we can do to to help ourselves, such as everybody wears a good quality, well fitting mask, spend time outside, ventilate inside and use air quality meters, and businesses can invest in air purifiers.

However, this won't happen. Governments messaging says its over and the main stream media is silent about all this, so the majority don't know about these issues. Even if they did know, at this point, most will ignore it because 'it's over/it's mild/ just gotta live with it/ or just general denial.

The virus is constantly mutating, so people will keep catching the next strain.

Unless something changes, in 2 - 3 years time we could be in real trouble.


On a more cheery note the leadership race.

Last time I looked we were down to 8 candidates

I can reject 3 at this stage.

Liz Truss - Way out of her depth as foreign secretary, and in recent months just looked empty behind the eyes. Plus backed by Rees-Mogg and Dorries

Suella Braverman - the choice of the right wing loons

Nadhim Zahawi - Spent too much time defending the indefensible when it came to Boris Johnson

So that leaves Sunak, Mordaunt, Tugendhat, Badenoch, and Hunt

[Mervyn and Trish]

Hopefully I'll get a drink out of Merv before the grim reaper comes a calling..............but I fear there is little hope.

Just let me know what time you expect the reaper. You know what they say, two's company etc.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'm warming to Penny Mordaunt. I notice she's adopted some of my economic policies.

[Onelife]

I'm warming to Penny Mordaunt. I notice she's adopted some of my economic policies.

See I told you that I know how to pick winners....

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... nch+speech

[barney]

Foolish man, but hopefully he'll make a full recovery.

The most ridiculous thing is that he’s not even a rapid anti vaxxer.
He just couldn’t be bothered to get jabbed.
He told me that they were hoping to go to the States later in the year and if he needed a vaccine to get in, he’d get jabbed.
His daughter hasn’t been vaccinated either but at least she’s young although she is packing a bit of timber.

[screwy]

All I can say is Thanks for the Vaccines.! A lot more would have died without.

Absolutely ... may I ask if you take cough mixture for your resultant cough ?

Hi Moby,

No, I don’t bother now. I was taking ‘Broncho Stop’ don’t know whether it did any good, tasted horrible.. I was once told by my Doc that Cough medicine was a waste of time and money, paracetamol and lots of fluids.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Jeremy Hunt out in first round. Thank goodness, he was a useless Health Secretary and a back stabber.

[screwy]

So, Zahawi and Hunt gone.!

Come on Penny.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think it could come down to Penny or Rishi when it goes to the members. I still want to hear more on policies.

Immigration is a tricky one for me. I am not opposed to immigration where we need the skills, from anywhere in the world. I am opposed to uncontrolled immigration. I also think the line between legitimate refugees and economic migrants is blurred. And while I'm not a fan of the Rwanda scheme we have to find a way of stopping criminal human traffickers loading people onto unsafe boats under the noses of seemingly ineffective French police and border officials.

[Kendhni]

Last time I looked we were down to 8 candidates

I can reject 3 at this stage.

Liz Truss - Way out of her depth as foreign secretary, and in recent months just looked empty behind the eyes. Plus backed by Rees-Mogg and Dorries

Suella Braverman - the choice of the right wing loons

Nadhim Zahawi - Spent too much time defending the indefensible when it came to Boris Johnson

So that leaves Sunak, Mordaunt, Tugendhat, Badenoch, and Hunt

Truss, in my mind, has always been an underachiever .. the epitome of the tale that in the civil service the largest and most useless lumps rise to the top

Braverman lost my interest when she suggested that the UK should leave the ECHR ,,, maybe we could form a new gorup with Russia and Belarus.

Zahawi - like Truss, does not seem to know which side to take. When Sunak went the rumour was that he told Boris he wanted chancellor or he would also resign. He took that post and made a few comments about how wonderful everything was and then the next day, when it was obvious Johnson had been exposed, he joined in the condemnation.

I am still sticking with my top 3 ... any of them could make a good PM ... but time to hear a bit more detail on policies on a broad range of topics. Unless someone really screws up I reckon it will end up between Sunak and Mordaunt. I believe either has the propensity to be a good tory leader.

[david63]

I reckon it will end up between Sunak and Mordaunt.

This is quite interesting. Sunak, it would appear, is the favourite with the Tory MPs, and the bookmakers, but recent polls of a small percentage of the Tory faithful seem to prefer Mordaunt.

On the one hand you have MPs who work with both of them, have seen them in action on a day to day basis and make a judgment on that whereas the party faithful, who will have the last word, are looking at something else. Will be interesting, if comes down to these two, how it works out.

On another point - poor old Jeremy who could not even count on the support he had yesterday.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Makes you wonder if at least a couple said "yes of course Jeremy" just to make him shut up! I think it means we've seen the last of him forever. His ship has sailed.

[towny44]

Mordant is less well known by the electorate than Maggie was when she ousted Ted Heath, so she needs a major boost if she is to beat Rishi on a run off.

[Onelife]

I reckon it will end up between Sunak and Mordaunt.

This is quite interesting. Sunak, it would appear, is the favourite with the Tory MPs, and the bookmakers, but recent polls of a small percentage of the Tory faithful seem to prefer Mordaunt.

On the one hand you have MPs who work with both of them, have seen them in action on a day to day basis and make a judgment on that whereas the party faithful, who will have the last word, are looking at something else. Will be interesting, if comes down to these two, how it works out.

On another point - poor old Jeremy who could not even count on the support he had yesterday.

Hi David, most bookies have Penny Mordaunt odds on favourite to be the next PM. Her odds have shortened drastically since the first ballot and she is currently trading at 2/5 on with Sunak now trading at 3/1 against.

She is very popular with the party membership which bodes well for chances of winning the decider.

I note Sunak got the backing of 87 MP’s whilst Mordaunt got 67…. come tomorrow I rather suspect the gap will have narrowed to within single figures…in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if Mordaunt is leading after tomorrows vote.