Are things becoming just a little bit shit?

[Bloomsburygirl]

I was wondering if anyone else has started to notice the deteriorating standards in public services and private businesses. I went to London over the weekend, and I was shocked by the filth and litter. I moved to the UK in 2011, and I visited many times before I moved. I do not remember rubbish strewn across streets like it is now. And every place I seem to go gives off a feeling that there simply are not enough staff anymore. Restaurant toilets and public toilets are filthy, it takes an age to be served, and don't get me started on public transport (I read the recent thread on this and agree with every word). It seems to me like the consequences of Brexit/pandemic are really starting to bite, and to be honest, I miss the way it was pre-2016. AIBU, or do others feel the same? And is this the new normal? Disclaimer - I still adore the UK and would never want to live anywhere else!

But like supermarkets with empty shelves, they are still paying for the space.

if x/y=z then decreasing "x" while "y" remains constant means "z" decreases.

Of course you could scale "y" up to try and offset this. And that's when prices rise.

The problem is too many snouts are in troughs linked to the property market, Hence the hysteria around large swathes of people - and industries - suddenly realising they don't need to commute.

I travel a lot for my work, and this is not only in London. It is like people don't even care anymore. Sort of depressed all over.

So why is Paris a shithole is that because of Brexit?

It scares me that so many young people have no interest in politics, they don’t realize that they can change the government or their policies by voting, so many seem indifferent and we will never have change unless they understand they can make a difference🥲

It's almost as if telling them they are living their best lives has an effect ...

So why is Paris a shithole is that because of Brexit?
Don't forget Rome and Athens - Brexit shitholes too.

Rome is a shithole? Could've fooled me. It's magnificent. Mind you, I don't think London is either.

Rome has awful problems with beggars and pickpockets. I've been once. The only place I've had my purse stolen in 50 years of foreign holidays. It's like the Oliver Twist play, with even very young children involved in the thefts. Beggars and homeless hanging around everywhere. Once is enough!

The only place I’ve been pickpocketed was Berlin - and it seemed so civilised!

All those young people who have been going on marches and protesting over the last few years? No interest in politics my arse

Ah, but they don't count because they don't vote Tory.

It's a minority though, isn't it who are active like that.

47% of the 18-24 group voted in the last general election.

That compares with 70-80% for the over 45's.

There's a lot of work to do to get the younger people interested in politics and voting.

So were young people more politically active in the 'olden days', when things weren't shit?

MrsFezziwig
Yawn

Perhaps have an early night tonight - you were posting very late yesterday.

beguilingeyes
'but Jeremy Corbyn '. JC wasn't even LOTO during the Pandemic, let alone running the country so not as relevant as what BJ was doing

He was almost running the country (2017 was a close call) - and Keir Starmer thought Corbyn was well qualified to run the country just prior to the pandemic.

Have you seen any of the COVID enquiry? Of course the client media aren't reporting it.

Don't be so condescending - I've haven't watched the live broadcasts but I do read the Times most days, watch BBC News and Newsnight - I read the Guardian online and listen to LBC when I can. Occasionally I've come across a free to read article in the Spectator or the Critic - one here you might like to read (although probably not);

Revisionist lockdown history
https://thecritic.co.uk/revisionist-lockdown-history/

BJ Missing the first five Cobra meetings because he couldn't be bothered...

I recall Michael Gove's comments on this;

Mr Gove said: "He didn't (attend) but then he wouldn't - because most Cobra meetings don't have the prime minister attending them."
He added that it was "grotesque" to portray Mr Johnson "as though not caring about this".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52344560
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/20/is-it-unusual-for-a-pm-to-skip-cobra-meetings

And there may have been a second wave in most places but EOTHO is considered to have caused a massive spike in infections.

What do you consider to be a 'massive spike'? I've seen reports of an academic study that claimed infections rose between 8% and 17% in some areas but I wouldn't call that a massive spike - indeed 8% is a small spike. I might add that the German academic who carried out the study is no friend of the government - I distinctly recall his anti-Brexit, anti-Tory tweets in the run up to the 2019 election.

Also;
Mr Sunak said that there had been a month between EOTHO being announced and it coming into effect, adding: 'They (scientists) had ample opportunity to raise those concerns in forums where I was, or where the Prime Minister and others were, and they didn't.'

I am impressed you have found something that Sunak remembers, well done.

I am wondering if Sunak's memory problems started earlier than we realise.

Perhaps all the times he sat next to Johnson and nodded along to his lies in parliament Sunak did not know Johnson was lying because he couldn't remember the parties they both attended and broke the law at?

^Mr Gove said: "He didn't (attend) but then he wouldn't - because most Cobra meetings don't have the prime minister attending them."
He added that it was "grotesque" to portray Mr Johnson "as though not caring about this".^

Of course Gove defended him, he would say that, wouldn’t he? As Ms Rice Davies famously said.

Rome looks charming -

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/07/romes-citizens-ask-unesco-to-help-save-city-from-mortifying-mess

Is that your best link for this evening?

I was hoping for a new angle on Keir's beer.

@electriclight where do you go on holidays? I feel the opposite when I step foot back in Heathrow.

Mr Gove said: "He didn't (attend) but then he wouldn't - because most Cobra meetings don't have the prime minister attending them."
He added that it was "grotesque" to portray Mr Johnson "as though not caring about this

Even if this was true, you'd think that an exception might have been made in the case of the rapid spread of a hitherto unknown virus?

Given the cost of the scheme, it's over £1million per refugee

Really? So you know how many refugees will come. Are they a fixed number?

As I understand it the number of refugees that Rwanda can transfer to the UK in the agreement is not fixed.

The UK is in a downward spiral

It's a depressing anti aspiration place nowadays

I've heard Rwanda is nice this time of year.