BRFR Cake Stop 'breaking news' miscellany

[briantrumpet]

If this is the level of his journalism he needs to be careful what he wishes for.

As someone else observed, he used to be a moderately amusing standard political sketch-writer, but seems to have been radicalised by working at the Telegraph, or exposure to X, or something.

 

[Psamathe]

HS2 bill could rise to £102bn with first trains delayed until 2039, government admits
The HS2 high-speed railway will now cost up to £102.7bn and trains will not start running between London and Birmingham until as late as 2039, the government has admitted – £70bn more and 13 years later than originally promised.

The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said that the truncated railway would not be entirely completed until as late as 2043.

To me this highlights the unaccountability of politicians. Their promises, our money, driven by politicians and what I'd call a massive failure yet many of those responsible now enjoying lucrative non-exec roles.

Even if they were still in our legaislature best we'd get is "I take full responsibility, end of story, nothing changes".

 

[secretsqirrel]

Great question, Michael! How about asking whether they should also be sterilised too, while you're on a roll?

View attachment 15217

If they had done that for the Brexit referendum we would still be in EU.

 

[C R]

I sometimes ride past the sign for Drugger's End, and have wondered what I would find there.

 

[briantrumpet]

Apologies for the big screencap, but thought it apposite when a headline in the Graun is that net immigration to the UK is now already really low, but people still think it's going up.

I'm not sure what you can do when people are so determined to believe 'their own facts' rather than actual, you know, facts.

But I thought that this little 3-way exchange highlights the challenge well, and the corrosive influence of NCAP, obvs.

 

[AuroraSaab]

It's the nature of the immigration not just the numbers that concerns people. Imo people are more concerned about those arriving on small boats via the channel than they are about Chinese students. It's a bit disingenuous to suggest that as long as the overall figures are reducing people should disregard the means of arrival.

 

[BoldonLad]

It's the nature of the immigration not just the numbers that concerns people. Imo people are more concerned about those arriving on small boats via the channel than they are about Chinese students. It's a bit disingenuous to suggest that as long as the overall figures are reducing people should disregard the means of arrival.

I think there is also a scepticism about "official figures".

 

[AuroraSaab]

An investigation into the scam that is service charges on retirement properties is long overdue. 'Park homes' is another one. I think you need to think very carefully before committing to these places, attractive as they might seem. The ones round here sell for around 20% less than non retirement flats but they often have short leases and the service charges are around £5k.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9v38vk2j0no

 

[Psamathe]

It's the nature of the immigration not just the numbers that concerns people. Imo people are more concerned about those arriving on small boats via the channel than they are about Chinese students.

Also too much disinformation. BBC More of Less took on some ludicrous claim from Reese-Mogg (daughter?) about the %age of Dorset asylum seekers
“asylum seekers make up 0.8% of Dorset’s population and 44% of alleged sex offenses. So unbelievable I had to check.” (More of Less' over polite statement "We checked too, and the number isn’t right." but from the program it's far worse than "not right" as in off-the-scale wrong.

It's complete rubbish but too many are ready to believe and don't take much convincing and a name like Rees-Mogg is enough to convince them ...

 

[Ian H]

It's the nature of the immigration not just the numbers that concerns people. Imo people are more concerned about those arriving on small boats via the channel than they are about Chinese students. It's a bit disingenuous to suggest that as long as the overall figures are reducing people should disregard the means of arrival.

Obviously it was safer for them to travel over in the back of lorries, though that too had its dangers. But safe routes and proper, functioning immigration services would be ideal.

 

[First Aspect]

I'm very sympathetic indeed to people with beloved companion animals who struggle because vet bills have doubled under PE ownership.

I am less sympathetic to people who bought a pit bull or a cat in lockdown to entertain the kids, and where the novelty has worn off.

 

[icowden]

It's the nature of the immigration not just the numbers that concerns people. Imo people are more concerned about those arriving on small boats via the channel than they are about Chinese students.

So "yellow" people are ok, "brown" people not OK. Got it.

 

[Beebo]

An investigation into the scam that is service charges on retirement properties is long overdue. 'Park homes' is another one. I think you need to think very carefully before committing to these places, attractive as they might seem. The ones round here sell for around 20% less than non retirement flats but they often have short leases and the service charges are around £5k.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9v38vk2j0no

View attachment 15249

They are a scam. The fact that the service charges roll on even once the occupant has died is terrible.
Once you die the contract should be cancelled and relatives be allowed to sell the flat. The problem is that the sheltered accommodation supplier usually has first refusal at a reduced price.

 

[Beebo]

Great question, Michael! How about asking whether they should also be sterilised too, while you're on a roll?

View attachment 15217

Does that include retirees, disabled, students, housewives etc.
or just the ones claiming unemployment benefit?
Why on earth would we want the most vulnerable in society to have a vote?

 

[Beebo]

Wow. Multiple gang rapes, filmed on phones. And the criminals don’t even get a custodial sentence. This has surely got to go to appeal?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypg68e2neo