Current Affairs 2024

[Meg 50]

Was there ever any doubt.!

Strange that his body seems to have disappeared. Maybe they don’t want an autopsy.? Or is that me being sceptical.

they've found him now - in a hospital morgue. Autopsy specialists are being flown in - "to write a Kremlin pleasing report"

[towny44]

What concerns me more than Putins murderous nature, is that a majority of Russians seem to believe, or accept, the Kremins spin on all world events.
Which leads to me to the conclusion that Russia will never change until it is defeated in a war, which with Russias, Chinas and N Koreas massive armies seems an unlikely situation.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Was there ever any doubt.!

Strange that his body seems to have disappeared. Maybe they don’t want an autopsy.? Or is that me being sceptical.

they've found him now - in a hospital morgue. Autopsy specialists are being flown in - "to write a Kremlin pleasing report"

Are we not all entirely satisfied he died of natural causes, or an unfortunate accident?

[Ray B]

Are we not all entirely satisfied he died of natural causes, or an unfortunate accident?

I'm sure the autopsy will confirm your concerns Merv.

[Stephen]

Didn’t he slip onto a syringe needle while sleep walking.

[towny44]

I'm sure the autopsy will confirm your concerns Merv.

Only if they can find his body!!!!

[Ray B]

What a nice man that there Mr Putin must be. He's only just given to his bestest mate, Kim Jong Un, a brand spanking new luxury Aurus limousine. It follows a visit last September where Kim was invited to sit in the back of Putins limo ,the same model, and they exchanged guns ,as you do with friend's

[david63]

Why is the Government wasting half a day, or more, on debating a resolution to have a ceasefire in Gaza when Israel will not take a blind bit of notice of it? It matters not one jot what anyone or any country thinks or says Israel have a "master plan" and will not deviate from it under any circumstances.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Maybe make it worth the time by including Ukraine as well?

[Mervyn and Trish]

What a shambles that turned out to be. I thought we'd moved past biased speakers when we got rid of the weasel Bercow. But no, now we have another one who bends the rules to save Labour from themselves. Well it looks like that backfired.

[oldbluefox]

Well it was certainly entertaining. I felt rather sorry for the Deputy Speaker who clearly had no control over the proceedings and feel Hoyle should have remained to sort things out instead of passing the buck to her. I don't think you can compare Hoyle to that weasel Bercow. I rather like him but he made a big mistake yesterday.
The irony of it all is it will make no difference to the actions of the Israelis until they have their hostages back no matter how distasteful we find the loss of innocent lives.
As an aside who on earth was the SNP member wandering around in a light green top and denim jeans. He looked very casual to the extent I wondered if he was a maintenance man although they look a lot smarter than he did. Is this the new dress code for members of parliament representing us? Frankly I thought he was disrespectful.

[david63]

From what I have been reading I think that Hoyle was between a rock and a hard place.

After the last vote on this subject it has been reported that numerous threats, both physical and on social media, have been made against some Labour Party members and whether I agree or disagree with their politics I find such things totally unacceptable. The reason for these threats is, allegedly, because they did not vote in favour of the resolution.

On this occasion because of the poor wording of the SNP resolution there was a general feeling that many (most?) MPs would not vote in favour of the SNP resolution therefore with the safety of MPs in mind he took the decision that he did.

Had he not taken that course of action then there was the possibility that the threats against MPs may have escalated to who knows what extent.

OK so he got it wrong from the parliamentary procedure point of view but possibly right from the safety of MPs point of view, but that does not excuse the childish behaviour of many MPs who were behaving like spoilt children who were playing party politics.

[barney]

Shock Horror !
Politicians playing politics.
Who’d a thunk it

[Stephen]

Like anyone is going to take notice of what we say anyway.

[barney]

Like anyone is going to take notice of what we say anyway.

Exactly.
Vain people with an overinflated opinion of their own worth.
We watched it kick off in parliament live.
Kids in the playground came to mind.

[oldbluefox]

I found it vaguely amusing when everybody walked out on Parliament leaving just the Labour MPs stoically remaining where they were. Comedy drama

[Mervyn and Trish]

From what I have been reading I think that Hoyle was between a rock and a hard place.

After the last vote on this subject it has been reported that numerous threats, both physical and on social media, have been made against some Labour Party members and whether I agree or disagree with their politics I find such things totally unacceptable. The reason for these threats is, allegedly, because they did not vote in favour of the resolution.

On this occasion because of the poor wording of the SNP resolution there was a general feeling that many (most?) MPs would not vote in favour of the SNP resolution therefore with the safety of MPs in mind he took the decision that he did.

He may have been in a difficult position, and he may have done it for the best of reasons. However, his job is to enforce the rules and he didn't do so. He was advised by officials he should not allow the Labour amendment. By doing so he allowed them to avoid exposing divisions in the party. He has now set a precedent so what happens next time?

[towny44]

From what I have been reading I think that Hoyle was between a rock and a hard place.

After the last vote on this subject it has been reported that numerous threats, both physical and on social media, have been made against some Labour Party members and whether I agree or disagree with their politics I find such things totally unacceptable. The reason for these threats is, allegedly, because they did not vote in favour of the resolution.

On this occasion because of the poor wording of the SNP resolution there was a general feeling that many (most?) MPs would not vote in favour of the SNP resolution therefore with the safety of MPs in mind he took the decision that he did.

He may have been in a difficult position, and he may have done it for the best of reasons. However, his job is to enforce the rules and he didn't do so. He was advised by officials he should not allow the Labour amendment. By doing so he allowed them to avoid exposing divisions in the party. He has now set a precedent so what happens next time?

He does seem to have accepted that he made the wrong decision, so hopefully there won't be a next time.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I certainly hope so.

[Slapstick]

Junior doctors start yet another 5 day walkout wanting a 35% pay increase, what are your thoughts?

I support them to some extent, but is 35% is unrealistic? Given they took an oath when signing up to save or preserve life and would've known the hours and pay.

This is the 10th strike in recent times, the Government have made it clear they won't pay it, is there the alternative way to get a resolution?

[david63]

In my view all strikes should be illegal - if you don't like the pay/conditions then go and get another job, if you can.

The junior doctors are not going to stop whilst they have the current leaders in the BMA who are now not even junior doctors and are not affected by the strike!

I do have some sympathy with the working conditions that they have when they are on call for several days at a time and as result may not get much sleep and then have to do a day's work. I would prefer any doctor that is treating me to be on his "A" game and wide awake.

The pay of junior doctors, and many other professions, has been eroded over the last few years for many reasons and so has the value of my investments - we are all suffering one way or another and to a lesser or greater extent. Asking for 35% is a non starter and the sooner they start being realistic the better for everyone.

[Slapstick]

In my view all strikes should be illegal - if you don't like the pay/conditions then go and get another job, if you can.

The junior doctors are not going to stop whilst they have the current leaders in the BMA who are now not even junior doctors and are not affected by the strike!

I do have some sympathy with the working conditions that they have when they are on call for several days at a time and as result may not get much sleep and then have to do a day's work. I would prefer any doctor that is treating me to be on his "A" game and wide awake.

The pay of junior doctors, and many other professions, has been eroded over the last few years for many reasons and so has the value of my investments - we are all suffering one way or another and to a lesser or greater extent. Asking for 35% is a non starter and the sooner they start being realistic the better for everyone.

Pretty much mirrors my thoughts David, the BMA needs to consider a reasonable compromise rather than point blank 35% or nothing the Government may sit down at the negotiating table again then there may be some light at the end of the tunnel

My sympathy is fading fast though, when I look at overcrowded wards and the NHS on its knees the last thing patients need is doctors striking and holding the Government to ransom.

[towny44]

I agree with you both, most workers will not have had rises in line with inflation, if you go back far enough. So the pay claim is a total non starter, and doctors need to cancel their strikes and start realistic negotiations.

[oldbluefox]

I believe I'm going against the grain here and whilst I agree 35% is unachievable and strikes are not a satisfactory means to resolving the dispute I have every sympathy with the junior doctors.
I cannot agree with the mantra "They knew what the wages were....." or the notion "It's a profession they go into for the love of the job" which is sometimes banded about.
As I say i believe 35% is unrealistic but the government needs to go some way to restoring the pay levels which have been eroded since 2008 and to stop using the pay of those in the public sector to balance the books. Far too often pay is frozen or awarded way below inflation and this situation is the result. You cannot continue eroding pay and working conditions of your staff until eventually they will start leaving and you end up not only with a recruitment problem but one of retention.
Unfortunately junior doctors are leaving in their droves to Canada, Australia and New Zealand where the pay and working conditions are better. My niece's daughter is currently 'on holiday' in Australia and meeting up with a friend she qualified with who has already moved there. We have a good idea what she is doing. Meanwhile her younger brother has just started work in construction and, much to her annoyance earns as much as she does without any of the responsibility but with a good few perks which are not available to those in the public sector. After all the years of study and training I'm not surprised she is disillusioned and annoyed.
If we want a health service which works we need to look after these people, pay them what they deserve and stop the drift away from this country. Instead of looking towards tax cuts we should be investing in an NHS which is badly broken.
People may say "If they don't like it you know what they can do". They are absolutely right and sadly that is exactly what is happening. Is that the way to build the service?
I say give them a pay deal similar to that which the Scottish doctors accepted ie 12% plus a cash sum and a promise of above inflation pay rises in the future. And would the government stop using the public sector to pay for their mistakes with the economy?

[oldbluefox]

...................and as for working conditions they should abandon the 12 hour shifts. From my own time in hospital by the time they come to the end of their shifts, nurses and doctors are absolutely cream crackered and they have had enough. How can anyone make critical decisions under those circumstances especially when they are trying to cope with two or three wards with a skeleton (no pun intended) staff.
You've heard enough from me so I will not talk about the physical environment or the outdated, malfunctioning equipment they often have to use. We can talk about that another day.
If we want the health service we expect we will have to pay for it and unpalatable though it is, that means higher taxes (and everybody paying in), not tax cuts.