Questions Of The Day (Politics)

[Mick Harper]

Re this business about internet giants hoovering up our data and synthesising it. I have just received this (in all its punctuational illiteracy) from Amazon:

[Hatty]

The answer was directed at Nathan Carmody (I have personality issues when logging onto Amazon). Email replies to 'Nathan Carmody' get sent to Mick's address as well thanks to my son's mastery of internet technology. He's just given me a coffee machine which I've not even used but the internet is spreading the word.

[Mick Harper]

When I want you spoiling my conspiracy theories I will let you know.

[Hatty]

Robert Fisk's article on the alleged chemical attack was brought to our attention in both national TV news and the national press by a Labour MP, Chris Williamson.

Last week Marina Hyde, a Guardian journalist, more or less dubbed Williamson a traitor to Britain

[Mick Harper]

Actually it is treason. Not appearing on RT but for what he said on it, which by any measure would be considered giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the Crown in a time of war. This would be irrespective of whether what he is saying is true or not.

One of the problems in this kind of thing is that the Russian populace would not know that in practice being a Labour MP for Derby North means half-a-dozen hard case conspirators, who share his opinions, getting him selected in a safe seat. Or maybe they would since their own MP's are chosen this way.

[Mick Harper]

The Windrush Generation goes from strength to strength. By this morning they were, according to Robert Peston no less, the people who re-built Britain after the war. I don't suppose anybody is interested but I might as well give the true history.

There have always been tiny 'Lascar' populations around our major ports -- they have always been insignificant both in terms of contributions to and as problems for the country as a whole. All Commonwealth citizens had a right to live and work in the 'mother country' but remarkably few ever availed themselves of the right (except Australians and they mostly went home again). In the mid-1950's London Transport began recruiting bus conductors in the Caribbean and this led to a significant change as word got back about the wider opportunities in Britain (rich country, poor people). This pretty much immediately led to the first race riots (starting with Notting Hill, 1958) and other manifestations of native discontent. Hence over the next ten years Commonwealth citizens lost the right to live or work in Britain (except Australians via the infamous 'patrial' clause, but even that soon went). End of story.

One hopes the individuals who have suffered are recompensed, one hopes the individuals responsible for the suffering will be punished, one hopes we can all move on to more important matters.

[Wile E. Coyote]

I struggle to see how this Windrush fiasco happened.

Wiley reckons that it's pretty difficult to conduct disclosure and barring checks without ID, or for that matter to claim any entitlement to housing, benefits, medical services, open a bank account, travel abroad, in fact do almost everything, without papers. In fact you now seem to need at least 2 or three types.

Clearly when you go for your job as a Nursery Assistant, (Charity overseas aid worker!) they will advise you that you need ID and references...and they will get you DB checked (err, Oxfam references appear not to be worth much). Still it is not going to be enough for employers bureaucrats to see the Person as Ms Rudd says..... ie folks will be pilloried for employing those quoting the Windrush Exception....when the next abuse scandal comes along.

I get the fact that a few folks can lose ID, but surely the Home Office folks should have a previous record.

[Mick Harper]

My guess is that we are dealing with marginal people though it is politically incorrect to describe them so. However the good news (from the political correctness perspective) is that this whole schemozzle has reminded us that West Indians are very much more British than later immigrants have turned out to be.

[Mick Harper]

Not that that is necessarily good news given the way the British have turned out. Idle scumbags living on handouts the lot of them. But enough about me.

[Boreades]

[Boreades]

[Mick Harper]

I thought we'd put an end to saloon bar talk. Please remember you are entitled to hold any opinion you like but you are not allowed to trot it out in this forum if it's the same as everybody else's.

[Boreades]

[Mick Harper]

Nobody's above the law. Even if it's my law.

[Boreades]