Current Affairs 2023

[oldbluefox]

Penny Mordaunt should have had the top job long ago. Gillian Keegan? Total waste of space.
One thing's for sure I won't be voting Tory. I won't be voting Labour either as I simply have no trust in them. Seeing a core of Corbyn disciples chomping at the bit for power does not fill me with confidence. As with any politicians it's not what they say, it's what they don't say.

[Onelife]

I am beginning to think that Gillian Keegan could well be a front runner if the Tories lose and Rishi resigns, and as education secretary there is a precedent for her to get the top job.

I don’t know much about the lady John but looking at her last appointments it appears she won’t have gained much experience in any of them, especially considering the time she spent in each role….and we wonder why this country is in a mess.
•
•
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Africa)
o 2022 to 2022
• Minister of State (Minister for Care and Mental Health)
o 2021 to 2022
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills)
o 2020 to 2021

[towny44]

I am beginning to think that Gillian Keegan could well be a front runner if the Tories lose and Rishi resigns, and as education secretary there is a precedent for her to get the top job.

I don’t know much about the lady John but looking at her last appointments it appears she won’t have gained much experience in any of them, especially considering the time she spent in each role….and we wonder why this country is in a mess.
•
•
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Africa)
o 2022 to 2022
• Minister of State (Minister for Care and Mental Health)
o 2021 to 2022
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills)
o 2020 to 2021

Tony Blair and David Cameron had absolutely no experience of Cabinet posts when they became PM.

[CaroleF]

I'd like to see Penny Mordant as leader of the Conservatives too. I think she seems far more of a leader than Rishi. After the Coronation the public have seen much more of her, especially in at the Accession Council where Charles III was proclaimed King. She looks and sounds like a leader. She's had naval experience too.

[david63]

This made me chuckle https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-67192282

I don't suppose for one minute that the train company is getting its own back on the train drivers for continually going on strike so that the will not be getting overtime payments and the union having the audacity to call it "shameful" after the antics they have been up to.

[Stephen]

A case of the 'pot calling the kettle'.

[Onelife]

Train drivers

For a job that doesn’t require higher education they get well paid, less of course someone can give me a reason why I may be wrong.

[Mervyn and Trish]

It looks like Iona is currently involved in a rescue operation in the North Sea. Two cargo ships collided, one of them has sunk. One crew dead, two rescued, four still missing. The BBC reports a cruise ship is assisting. Marine Traffic shows Iona close by the ship still afloat after the collision.

[Onelife]

Its hard to imagine how this could have happened…I can only imagine weather conditions played its part… fog?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Or human error?

[Stephen]

More info here

One dead after ships collide in North Sea https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67204041

[Mervyn and Trish]

Thoughts on the latest in the Gaza conflict. Israel claims its attacks on the hospital area are justified because Hamas have a command centre underground there. Hamas deny it.

Surely it should be simple now Israel has boots on the ground? They have produced some weapons they say were stashed there but Hamas say they were planted. What they actually need to do is to locate the entrance to the alleged command centre tunnels, then invite in UN representatives and show them. QED.

[Ray B]

Some film on TV show they are in the alleged tunnels but not the location. Would ground penetrating radar ,if they can obtain one, locate the underground tunnels ?

[Onelife]

Thoughts on the latest in the Gaza conflict. Israel claims its attacks on the hospital area are justified because Hamas have a command centre underground there. Hamas deny it.

Surely it should be simple now Israel has boots on the ground? They have produced some weapons they say were stashed there but Hamas say they were planted. What they actually need to do is to locate the entrance to the alleged command centre tunnels, then invite in UN representatives and show them. QED.

That would be the justification Israel are searching for, but failure to find tunnels in this location doesn’t detract from the fact that Hamas are using tunnels, probably in places where innocent civilians and hostages are trying to survive.

It’s not easy watching the suffering that is being inflicted, however war is a nasty business and no number of tears are going to stop this war until Israel know that Hamas has been eradicated or rendered incapable of achieving an Islamic state.

There is however two sides to the rights and wrongs of what is happening in Gaza…unfurtunatly the legitimacy of one sides argument was lost Imo when they carried out the brutal slaying of innocent Israelis and others on October 7th.

I read recently that 52% of Palestinians support Hamas? If this is true one can only hope the other 48% can be the moderators of a compromise which works for both sides once this tragic event is over.

[Mervyn and Trish]

And you don't think Israel have been brutally slaying innocents since? I make no excuse for Hamas but Israel has killed a lot more children since Oct 7th than the total number of people Hamas killed. There is no right on either side IMO.

I have no doubt Hamas have tunnels. But if they are indeed specifically under that hospital Israel needs to show them to the world to justify their actions in attacking it.

[Onelife]

And you don't think Israel have been brutally slaying innocents since? I make no excuse for Hamas but Israel has killed a lot more children since Oct 7th than the total number of people Hamas killed. There is no right on either side IMO.

I have no doubt Hamas have tunnels. But if they are indeed specifically under that hospital Israel needs to show them to the world to justify their actions in attacking it.

Hi Sir Merv, I think the crux of your question revolves around whether or not Israel’s response is proportional to that of the massacre which Hamas terrorists committed? If this is correct then I respond thus…if it were the case that Hamas and the IDF were to meet on an open battle field using conventional means of combat then that would be proportional. What actually happened was that a bunch of terrorists slaughtered innocent citizens in the most barbaric way, only then to slither back to where they came hiding beneath the skirts of women and children. Whilst I share your view about the disproportionate amount of victims being killed I don’t in all honesty see what options Israel has other than to bring down Hamas and the ideology that wants to kill every Jew in Israel.

[towny44]

The merry go round of discussions on here about Gaza just goes to show how difficult foreign policy is for all governments.
The carnage and destruction wreaked on Gaza cannot be considered proportional, and yet Israelis will never be safe as long as Hamas terrorists are in charge in Gaza, so it is difficult to see what Israel's alternatives are.

[david63]

Let's also put into the equation that the Hamas attack was, to some extent, brought about by Israel taking its eye off the ball and allowing it to happen in the first place.

No matter the rights and wrongs of this war there is absolutely no justification for either side to kill or put into life threatening scenarios the lives of children and babies. I suspect that Israel has lost the respect of many countries and even more people around the world over this.

I have said this before; what Israel is doing in Gaza is exactly what the Nazis were doing to the Jews in WWll which resulted in the state of Israel being created.

[Onelife]

Let's also put into the equation that the Hamas attack was, to some extent, brought about by Israel taking its eye off the ball and allowing it to happen in the first place.

No matter the rights and wrongs of this war there is absolutely no justification for either side to kill or put into life threatening scenarios the lives of children and babies. I suspect that Israel has lost the respect of many countries and even more people around the world over this.

I have said this before; what Israel is doing in Gaza is exactly what the Nazis were doing to the Jews in WWll which resulted in the state of Israel being created.

Hi David, I disagree with your first point which is like saying the Americans took their eyes off the ball with the twin tower atrocities, or closer to home with the London bus bombings….as fare as I am aware terrorists don’t send out we are ‘arriving soon’ messages.

On your second point while not wishing to sound flippant I don’t think the phrase “Come out, Come out , wherever you are” is going to work in this situation.

[david63]

I disagree with your first point which is like saying the Americans took their eyes off the ball with the twin tower atrocities, or closer to home with the London bus bombings….as fare as I am aware terrorists don’t send out we are ‘arriving soon’ messages.

There are numerous reports that Israel intelligence missed the signs/warnings:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67082047
https://www.politico.eu/article/israel- ... -planning/

are just two. Plenty more if you ask Mr Google

On your second point while not wishing to sound flippant I don’t think the phrase “Come out, Come out , wherever you are” is going to work in this situation.

Probably not but at least a few thousand innocent children would still be alive. The killing of children on such a scale is a war crime and hopefully at some point in the future Israel will be taken to task over it.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So Israel now says it has found a Hamas tunnel under the hospital. If so, and if there is anything to justify claims of a terrorist HQ, don't just tell us. Don't publish pictures or videos that can't be verified. Take independent UN inspectors, accompanied by independent journalists, to show them in person.

[Onelife]

So Israel now says it has found a Hamas tunnel under the hospital. If so, and if there is anything to justify claims of a terrorist HQ, don't just tell us. Don't publish pictures or videos that can't be verified. Take independent UN inspectors, accompanied by independent journalists, to show them in person.

Considering all our concerns about the plight of innocent citizens caught up in this conflict I think it best that they don’t take your advice because to do so would only legitimise further bombings if it is proven to be true.

[Mervyn and Trish]

And if it isn't?

[david63]

Does anyone else think that the "rumoured" cut to Inheritance Tax shows a complete of being in touch with the general public? Inheritance Tax will only affect a small percentage of the population and any cut will only affect a small percentage of those.

When I am Chancellor in Keefies new government the first thing would be to reduce, or preferably eliminate, the national debt. This would free up £billions in interest payments which could then be used to fund schools, NHS, roads etc. and only then would taxes be cut.

[Mervyn and Trish]

These days I think these "rumours" are deliberate leaks to test the reaction before actually making a decision. But I agree with David. Won't make any difference to me or my family. If there is any money to give away increase the threshold at which people start to pay tax. Take the lowest earners out of it altogether.