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Original poster

Westministenders: Its Really Not Getting Any Better Is It?

991 replies

RedToothBrush · 17/12/2018 23:10

We are STILL on collision course for no deal.

Christmas is here, and whilst we might appreciate the respite from Brexit News, its really a luxury we can't afford.

The meaningful vote is scheduled for January.

Chaos is scheduled for shortly after.

I wish you all a happy and enjoyable Christmas.

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Thread gallery
31
Thegirlinthefireplace · 20/12/2018 22:28

BCC - this one www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/20/polls-stay-eu-yougov-brexit-peoples-vote

Thegirlinthefireplace · 20/12/2018 22:29

I meant BCF, sorry! Hope link worked.

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 20/12/2018 22:29

DH has said, 'Why just Gatwick? If they had more than one operator, surely they'd try it on at more than one location, unless there was something 'special' about Gatwick or there was only one operator'.

By special he was refering to something like special knowledge of the airport or ability to view the airport or a local connection.

At most, I can't see it being more than two people.

But yes, the longer it goes on, the more questions you start to ask.

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Original poster
RedToothBrush · 20/12/2018 22:32

FIFTY drone sighting at the airport today.

(source BBC news).

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BigChocFrenzy · 20/12/2018 22:32

Thanks, girl 👍

user1471453601 · 20/12/2018 22:33

You know that moment in a football match when the home crowed put their hands on their heads in tend of celebrating a goal? That's where I am.. I've said it before, but it stands being said again. Shit creek and no paddle. Whatever happens from now, we are, as a country, well and truly fucked

GD12 · 20/12/2018 22:35

Mattis just fired by Trump. If Brexit doesn't get us in 2019 then nuclear war will!

Mrsr8 · 20/12/2018 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lonelyplanetmum · 20/12/2018 22:36

Remember in the early Nick Timothy days of our ' negotiation' to leave the bloc. TM shabbily juxtaposed threats to withdraw defence and intelligence cooperation in return for her demands.

It's no great loss for the EU , losing our intelligence is it? if drones can be buzzing around Gatwick all day and our great military and police intelligence can't find those responsible by searching what a three/ four mile radius?

lonelyplanetmum · 20/12/2018 22:41

I think it's 50 reports of a drone not 50 drones!

Sostenueto · 20/12/2018 22:41

How is brexit responsible for the drone problem at Gatwick? GB has the least law for where drones can be flown. That's the governments fault. France has a 10km no fly zone round airports.

BigChocFrenzy · 20/12/2018 22:42

I wonder is we'll see many more drone attacks, over the next few months,
or many different kinds of attacks - hacking, derailing trains, arson at key buildings, maybe IS attacks too -
All enemies, great & small.

Somehow I get the feeling the country is now seen as a large animal that is separating from the protection of the herd and has been marked out as vulnerable by all sorts of predators

Sostenueto · 20/12/2018 22:42

Our intelligence service is one of the best in the world. Is the EU at Gatwick helping then?

lonelyplanetmum · 20/12/2018 22:49

If our intelligence service is one of the best why weren't their methods used to help at Gatwick today? Sos is right it's nothing to go with the EU though, apart from our increased vulnerability generally.

1tisILeClerc · 20/12/2018 22:51

There are loads of houses not too far away for 'non domestic' drones (greater coverage) to be flown from, hiding the operators.
I would expect the army would have direction finding gear to locate the source of the controller(s) unless it is using satellite radio.
{Our intelligence service is one of the best in the world}.
Shame about the Prime Minister.

BigChocFrenzy · 20/12/2018 22:56

sos I grew up at a time whenever an MI5 or MI6 officer coughed, he was coughing in code to his KGB handler !
They were full of moles.

They are pretty stretched atm trying to tackle both enemy governments and terrorists, but they've done a good job there
So, at the moment, this looks like ordinary criminal activity, maybe either a form of vandalism or for later ransom demands elsewhere.
Hence it is the police who have responsibility.

However, it is adding to the international view of the world that the UK is particularly vulnerable atm,
too many crises at once.

Some surprise in Germany that the UK doesn't have the kind of defences against drones that they would expect:
electronic, other drones, birds of prey etc used elsewhere in Europe
Not even a typical 5km exclusion zone (because it restricts the freedom to play with drones ?)

As I posted above, drone threats have become very real the last couple of years.
Has the govt refused the money - can't be that much - for defences

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 20/12/2018 22:59

How is brexit responsible for the drone problem at Gatwick?

Its not.

Its more about reflecting on the sheer clusterfuck a drone can cause because our ability to cope with a crisis is so spectularly shite. Its a reflection of our poor planning ability.

And no deal Brexit is thousands of these crisis all at once.

shudders

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Sostenueto · 20/12/2018 23:00

They were saying this morning that there is a device on drones that is supposed to stop them flying near airports but this may have been disabled on the drone(s) being used. It is a premeditated attack on an airport probably by bored teens as school is now out. They can't shoot them down because of stray bullets hitting a member of the public, planes can't fly as they have to protect members of the public. I would rather have disruption because our forces are trying to keep Joe public safe then worry about delays to peoples holidays.
It is not due to incompetency the drone problem isn't solved yet but a matter of public safety.

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 20/12/2018 23:04

Its incompetency

Sam Hooper @SamHooper
Who could EVER have possibly predicted that letting any Tom, Dick or Harry buy their own mini flying machine for £100 might lead to serious aviation and national security issues? This is a total bolt from the blue. Nobody could have seen it coming.

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Sostenueto · 20/12/2018 23:05

It was common sense from the beginning that drones would be a problem especially in the hands of thoughtless idiots. But you see, the drone industry is expected to grow to at least £30 billion in the next 5 years making it a very ludicrous business. As usual money before humanity.

Sostenueto · 20/12/2018 23:06

Cross posted red!Smile

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 20/12/2018 23:07

Marcus Weisgerber @MarcusReports
Here's Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' letter of resignation. It comes one day after President Trump announced he would pull U.S. troops from Syria

Simon Nixon @Simon_Nixon
Extraordinary stuff. And deeply worrying for those allies who Trump is so flagrantly disrespecting.

Worth pointing out that the UK only found out about Trump withdrawing troops when Trump tweeted about it.

Westministenders: Its Really Not Getting Any Better Is It?
Westministenders: Its Really Not Getting Any Better Is It?
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Grinchly · 20/12/2018 23:09

@bigchocfrenzy : the birds of prey experiment was abandoned after a year.
Interested that you can be so confident about the capabilities ( or otherwise ) of MI5 and MI6 . Of being snarky, just nosy ! Grin
Agree the U.K. now looks like the wounded prey Sad

OlennasWimple · 20/12/2018 23:09

I like the idea of Dutch birds of prey being brought in to take out the drones

I wish I had grown up in a time where "bird of prey trainer to take out drones" was a career prospect

OlennasWimple · 20/12/2018 23:10

Oh, cross post Sad