Current Affairs 2025

Chat about anything here
User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10929
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by david63 »

Ray B wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 10:27
I have this uneasy feeling that some people who lost loved ones may be looking at a way to sue the government. Maybe I'm being a bit cynical.
Not cynical at all - some have openly said that they want those responsible to be held to account for their actions. There is no way that any court will be able to apportion blame for any individual death due to the actions of any government minister. People die all the time for any number of reasons and tragic as many of these deaths were I doubt that for other than a small handful of cases could any blame be attributed to an individual. My mother died, in a care home, on the second day of the first lockdown but I am not jumping up and down demanding heads to roll.

There can be as much talk as there wants to be, and as much preparation as you want, but at the end of the day there is no way that any government or person or organisation can prepare for something unknown at some unknown point in the future.


Portsmouth
Senior Second Officer
Senior Second Officer
Posts: 767
Joined: August 2024

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Portsmouth »

david63 wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 11:27


There can be as much talk as there wants to be, and as much preparation as you want, but at the end of the day there is no way that any government or person or organisation can prepare for something unknown at some unknown point in the future.
However there was a huge lack of keeping a supply of protective clothing which someone was neglecting to keep topped up
Hence various people were able to jump on the band wagon and make themselves a small fortune when covid came

User avatar

oldbluefox
Ex Team Member
Posts: 12524
Joined: January 2013
Location: Cumbria

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by oldbluefox »

At last I see common sense after listening to all the news reports. When the pandemic struck we didn't know how it would affect us, least of all the government, it was a total unknown so naturally mistakes could be and were made.It was a mistake to allow the races at Cheltenham to take place and similarly the Liverpool football match but we all knew what was happening across Europe, how the figures were rising. At that time and long before the lockdown was announced we were being extremely careful and I believe we, as a society have to take responsibility for our own actions. I find difficulty in having too much sympathy with those who are blaming the government for locking down too late. The warning signs were already there. Do we really need No10 to hold our hands because we are incapable of thinking for ourselves?
The government were culpable in many ways. Provision of protective gowns for the NHS, Baroness Mone lining her pockets, Boris missing COBRA meetings to go on holiday, MPs breaking lockdown to visit their father for his birthday and one attending a family gathering, Cummings mysterious visit to Barnard Castle, the parties in No10. On that issue alone I find the police culpable for allowing suitcases full of drink through security, senior civil servants who allowed the parties and Boris who went along with them whilst the rest of the country were in lockdown doing as they were told (well from what I saw, sort of!!).
These I count as serious breaches but we should not lose fact that we were dealing with an unknown quantity with serious consequences and I do feel sympathy for those who lost loved ones to the disease sometimes in very distressing circumstances.
It seems to me that the report does indeed tell us what we already knew, has taken too long to produce and the £200million could have been better spent elsewhere. Apparently Denmark produced theirs in six months at a fraction of the cost.
I was taught to be cautious

User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10929
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by david63 »

Portsmouth wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 11:39
However there was a huge lack of keeping a supply of protective clothing which someone was neglecting to keep topped up
Not sure that was/is true. As I understand it there was an adequate supply for "normal" circumstances and the problem with stockpiling PPE is, rightly or wrongly, that it has a "use by date" after which it cannot be safely used which if stockpiled would mean that it would have to be disposed of.

User avatar

towny44
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 9668
Joined: January 2013
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by towny44 »

Ray B wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 10:27
I can not remember any party crying for the government to shut down the country or screaming for some action to the pandemic fast approaching.
We could all see the Pandemic coming our way, well at least I could.We were off on a 4 week cruise three weeks before lock down, and weeks before we left when out shopping , we bought extra groceries to stock in the garage for when we returned, not know if there would be food in the shops.
So easy to find fault after the event, I don't think any party would have got it correct, but the decisions made at the beginning would not have been made lightly, shut the whole country down does not just roll off the tongue. I do feel sure in those early days, things were done with every intention for the best.
I have this uneasy feeling that some people who lost loved ones may be looking at a way to sue the government. Maybe I'm being a bit cynical.
I think many who lost loved ones are just looking for someone to blame, whilst probably regretting that they perhaps did not do enough to protect them. Any that are looking for compensation are, IMO just money grabbers.
Last edited by towny44 on 21 Nov 2025, 14:47, edited 1 time in total.
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14151
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Onelife »

Whilst there is no doubt that the furlough scheme kept people in jobs it was however very poorly administered with money being dished out to companies that weren’t even trading...I know this for a fact.

Yes’, hindsight is a wonderful thing but running around like headless chickens…which let’s face it is what the conservative party had been doing during their term of office it no wonder the report reads soi badly against Boris and his cronies…in times of natural disasters I think we should do away with Cobra meetings and replace it with a team of experts who are rehearsed and tasked for such events.

User avatar

towny44
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 9668
Joined: January 2013
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by towny44 »

Onelife wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 14:37
Whilst there is no doubt that the furlough scheme kept people in jobs it was however very poorly administered with money being dished out to companies that weren’t even trading...I know this for a fact.

Yes’, hindsight is a wonderful thing but running around like headless chickens…which let’s face it is what the conservative party had been doing during their term of office it no wonder the report reads soi badly against Boris and his cronies…in times of natural disasters I think we should do away with Cobra meetings and replace it with a team of experts who are rehearsed and tasked for such events.
Surely the experts that were involved in SAGE and all the other govt led depts were exactly the type of experts that you would have found, so you're just reinventing the wheel, as usual.
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000

User avatar

Ray B
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 3544
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Ray B »

david63 wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 12:47
Portsmouth wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 11:39
However there was a huge lack of keeping a supply of protective clothing which someone was neglecting to keep topped up
Not sure that was/is true. As I understand it there was an adequate supply for "normal" circumstances and the problem with stockpiling PPE is, rightly or wrongly, that it has a "use by date" after which it cannot be safely used which if stockpiled would mean that it would have to be disposed of.
Very true David, no doubt number crunches made sure that it was kept in a reasonable quantity so the papers didn't get to make headlines of a necessary waste of tax payers money, which would mean an immediate shortage in times of an emergency.
Why did the politicians not see it coming and instructed stock to be sourced, or maybe they did.
Don't worry, be happy

User avatar

Ray B
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 3544
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Ray B »

Onelife wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 14:37
Whilst there is no doubt that the furlough scheme kept people in jobs it was however very poorly administered with money being dished out to companies that weren’t even trading...I know this for a fact.
.
So how many extra staff did you claim for. :think: :think: :silent:
Don't worry, be happy

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14151
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Onelife »

towny44 wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 14:57
Onelife wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 14:37
Whilst there is no doubt that the furlough scheme kept people in jobs it was however very poorly administered with money being dished out to companies that weren’t even trading...I know this for a fact.

Yes’, hindsight is a wonderful thing but running around like headless chickens…which let’s face it is what the conservative party had been doing during their term of office it no wonder the report reads soi badly against Boris and his cronies…in times of natural disasters I think we should do away with Cobra meetings and replace it with a team of experts who are rehearsed and tasked for such events.
Surely the experts that were involved in SAGE and all the other govt led depts were exactly the type of experts that you would have found, so you're just reinventing the wheel, as usual.
It was those entrusted to steer the wheel that had no expertise or direction which caused the crash, as usual.

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14151
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Onelife »

Ray B wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 15:32
Onelife wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 14:37
Whilst there is no doubt that the furlough scheme kept people in jobs it was however very poorly administered with money being dished out to companies that weren’t even trading...I know this for a fact.
.
So how many extra staff did you claim for. :think: :think: :silent:
I didn't, but the woman that did got £34,000

User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10929
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by david63 »

Onelife wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 15:36
It was those entrusted to steer the wheel that had no expertise or direction which caused the crash, as usual.
I'm not sure that there was anybody in the world who knew how to "steer" the Covid wheel

User avatar

towny44
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 9668
Joined: January 2013
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by towny44 »

Why is Trump being so bloody minded with the negative peace terms on Ukraine. Does Putin have some damning evidence against him that is making him so pro Russia, if not what on earth is his motive.
I do hope that the remainder of NATA have the balls to reject the terms of this deal, and demand that Russia is punished for their unprovoked invasion.
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000

User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10929
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by david63 »

towny44 wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 23:46
Why is Trump being so bloody minded with the negative peace terms on Ukraine.
Because he can see the Nobel Peace Prize slipping away from him - nominations are made in January.
towny44 wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 23:46
Does Putin have some damning evidence against him that is making him so pro Russia
There are rumours that Putin does have something on Trump - no idea if they are true or not.

The point is that this is the way that Trump does business - do as I say or else suffer the consequences, he nothing short of a bully.

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17014
Joined: February 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Mervyn and Trish »

Yes I agree. He wants to up his total of wars ended.

To me his solution smacks of Neville Chamberlain's peace in our time piece of paper.

User avatar

Ray B
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 3544
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Ray B »

towny44 wrote: 21 Nov 2025, 23:46
Why is Trump being so bloody minded with the negative peace terms on Ukraine.
Maybe siding with Vlad he see possibilities of his favourite thing,to make money.,
Don't worry, be happy

User avatar

oldbluefox
Ex Team Member
Posts: 12524
Joined: January 2013
Location: Cumbria

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by oldbluefox »

I wonder if Trump would accept a similar deal if Russia invaded a part of the USA? Zelensky would have to be pretty desperate to accept peace on those terms. And how long until Putin returned to take over more of Ukraine? It’s a charter dreamt up to suit two bullies.
I was taught to be cautious

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14151
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Onelife »

While Russia is being supplied with weaponry from China, North Korea etc I can’t see were Zelensky can go from here unless his country wants to end up the way Gaza has gone.

A very sad outcome for Ukraine but a lesson we in the west should learn from.

User avatar

towny44
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 9668
Joined: January 2013
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by towny44 »

Onelife wrote: 22 Nov 2025, 21:54
While Russia is being supplied with weaponry from China, North Korea etc I can’t see were Zelensky can go from here unless his country wants to end up the way Gaza has gone.

A very sad outcome for Ukraine but a lesson we in the west should learn from.
But unless we help Ukraine to prevent it happening, then it's very likely Putin will try again with another of USER'S old member states, and he won't necessarily stop there.
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000

User avatar

oldbluefox
Ex Team Member
Posts: 12524
Joined: January 2013
Location: Cumbria

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by oldbluefox »

Following a diplomatic outcry from developed nations it looks like Trump is now reining back and his proposals are now open to negotiation and are not the finished article.
I was taught to be cautious

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14151
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Onelife »

towny44 wrote: 22 Nov 2025, 22:58
Onelife wrote: 22 Nov 2025, 21:54
While Russia is being supplied with weaponry from China, North Korea etc I can’t see were Zelensky can go from here unless his country wants to end up the way Gaza has gone.

A very sad outcome for Ukraine but a lesson we in the west should learn from.
But unless we help Ukraine to prevent it happening, then it's very likely Putin will try again with another of USER'S old member states, and he won't necessarily stop there.
In reality the only HELP we have given Ukraine is the ability to defend itself but not to retaliate where it hurts. All the HELP we have given Ukraine comes with a proviso that we won’t get drawn into conflict with Russia and its allies…we are essentially powerless to HELP Ukraine unless we want to risk WW3. Putin knows this and will continue to do as he pleases while we keep saying what he is doing is wrong.

User avatar

towny44
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 9668
Joined: January 2013
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by towny44 »

Onelife wrote: 23 Nov 2025, 10:17
towny44 wrote: 22 Nov 2025, 22:58
Onelife wrote: 22 Nov 2025, 21:54
While Russia is being supplied with weaponry from China, North Korea etc I can’t see were Zelensky can go from here unless his country wants to end up the way Gaza has gone.

A very sad outcome for Ukraine but a lesson we in the west should learn from.
But unless we help Ukraine to prevent it happening, then it's very likely Putin will try again with another of USER'S old member states, and he won't necessarily stop there.
In reality the only HELP we have given Ukraine is the ability to defend itself but not to retaliate where it hurts. All the HELP we have given Ukraine comes with a proviso that we won’t get drawn into conflict with Russia and its allies…we are essentially powerless to HELP Ukraine unless we want to risk WW3. Putin knows this and will continue to do as he pleases while we keep saying what he is doing is wrong.
Maybe WW3 might be a good idea, as well as putting a mighty dent in Putins ambitions, a side effect should help to reduce the population, and if we start conscription with asylum seekers, it should eliminate any further boat people.
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14151
Joined: January 2013

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by Onelife »

David Lammy is proposing Jury-free trials

Yes or No?

Without knowing all the details my initial thoughts would be to support this idea. Having said that, I think I would like to see more than one person presiding over the guilty or innocent verdicts.

User avatar

towny44
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 9668
Joined: January 2013
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by towny44 »

Onelife wrote: 25 Nov 2025, 20:40
David Lammy is proposing Jury-free trials

Yes or No?

Without knowing all the details my initial thoughts would be to support this idea. Having said that, I think I would like to see more than one person presiding over the guilty or innocent verdicts.
Maybe a better option would be to set a minimum education standard for jury duty.
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000

User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10929
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Current Affairs 2025

Unread post by david63 »

Onelife wrote: 25 Nov 2025, 20:40
David Lammy is proposing Jury-free trials
The argument is that it will speed up the backlog of trials although from those actually in the legal profession it will make or no difference.

Interesting that it is announced on the eve of the budget in typical deflection tactics.

Return to “General Chat”