Westministenders: The Truth Isn't A Made Up Concept

[RedToothBrush]

“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

Not George Orwell but often attributed to him. But a powerful statement with resonance nonetheless

Conservatism isn't working.

That photo
Seriously ! 😂
Are there similar pictures from any other country's Parliament being made to look such fools ?

"HE IS THE PRIME MINISTER > HE SHOULD BE IN DIRECT CONTROL ALREADY! "

and of course it really means Com Dum is taking direct control ....

He probably doesn't let BJ have the remote control to the telly

So is this the great act of democracy (in 1984-speak) that was being voted on today?

under previous plans, the commissions’ plans would be scrutinised and voted on by the Commons and Lords. But in a government update in March, titled Strengthening Democracy, the Cabinet Office said this would no longer be the case

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/02/uk-government-accused-of-power-grab-over-redrawing-of-boundaries

After my question this morning about blood donation, I got a text at lunch saying it had been cancelled and to ignore all further texts about this session!
DH had a session booked near his work as our local ones times don't work for him. He called and shifted it to home a few weeks into lockdown. They said, don't worry local centre is open, same protocol etc. He got a similar text and has done twice since after rebooking every time. The centre near his work is still open and positively requesting donors and he's contemplating booking with them and driving there now everything has been eased though tbh he did say he doesn't know why he didn't stick to the original appointment and drive there first time as it's medical and was allowed.

I have to say our local centre is relatively restrictive on times, and I've previously travelled to the one near his work to donate myself as their times oddly fit around a normal day better. Just an odd quirk here probably.

Stormont backs calling for extension to Brexit transition period

NI Unionists can be outvoted when all the other parties agree on something:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/02/stormont-backs-calling-for-extension-to-brexit-transition-period-border-checks-covid-19-coronavirus

The Northern Ireland assembly has unexpectedly voted in favour of calling for an extension to the Brexit transition period,
arguing that the UK government cannot impose complex border checks down the Irish Sea while Britain is occupied with the coronavirus crisis.

In a surprise development, nationalist, green and social democratic parties held sway in Stormont,
saying business cannot prepare for a no-deal Brexitt^ in the middle of a pandemic.

The Independent claims more than 25,000 patients were discharged to care homes by NHS hospitals in the 30 days before routine coronavirus testing was introduced.

A north-south COVID-19 divide is widening, with fatalities and new infections far more common in some regions than in London, Metro reports.
(hardly news, but London may not have realised)

The i says British universities are set to face the "biggest crisis they have ever seen",
with the funding of every area of academic life under threat.

What the saying about when you send the army into a city in a democracy to stop civil unrest, you lose control of the situation even more?

Things don't look great in DC right now.

The question isn't "Who will the military side with?" but rather "Who will remain in the military?"

What happens if a white nationalist defection occurs and there are white nationalist militias and corporate mercenary groups to join?

What happens if the DOD is fractured?

In case nobody has noticed, police forces around the country have been upgrading to military gear for decades.

Also, white nationalists have been infiltrating an already racist policing system for decades.

The police are staunchly behind Trump.

The use of local police,
DHS forces like ICE,
Private contractors and right-wing militias is way more flexible and difficult to confront than a straight military deployment.

The split alligences and idea of almost a mercenary force with private security firms involved in the mix (Trump doesn't use the secret service in way previous presidents did - he hired his own force to be loyal to him and not the state) does not bode well.

There is an almighty problem brewing with this situation if it carries on in this direction

How do civil wars start?

In April 2011, the Syrian Army fired on demonstrators across the country. After months of military battles, the protests turned into an armed rebellion. Opposition forces were soldiers who had left the Syrian army and civilian volunteers. Opposition fighters had no central leadership. Battles took place in many towns and cities across the country.

Yeah the US situation is really quite terrifying now. I can't see how this is going to end without huge loss of life.

Think of the global economic problems resulting from an internal US conflict.

Just saying...

Very depressed reading your updates this morning, RTB. However, the BBC is reporting police and military taking a knee with protestors in several cities across the US, so maybe it isn’t as bad as you think?

So the UK is going for the self-immolation strategy whilst the USA simply tears itself apart?

The pandemic seems intent on accelerating everything ugly.

The vast majority of people won’t think the bonkers voting arrangements in Parliament are a problem because they think the place is incomprehensibly bonkers anyway, and they don’t understand what it does and how it works.

... despite all the screaming about Democracy and what don't we understand!

So the UK is going for the self-immolation strategy whilst the USA simply tears itself apart?

And all because of the same ideologues on both sides of the pond.

How can it be right if those MPs who cannot attend because they are either shielded or have medical problems or pregnant are denied even the right to vote electronically? Surely this is not democracy!

On the other hand, they'll be getting the tiniest glimpse of how some of their most vulnerable constituents have to live every day. Only without the whopping salary MPs get.

Oh and the message to voters could not be clearer. If you want to be represented in parliament then next time vote for someone young, white and healthy. If you don't - well you've only got yourself to blame.

Meanwhile, closer to home, and back to Brexit: Nissan saying Sunderland factory at risk if there's No Deal. 7000 workers, 70% of output goes to EU - its no surprise they don't want tariffs on their exports.
BBC News - Nissan: UK factory still under threat from no-deal Brexit
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52900528

The i says British universities are set to face the "biggest crisis they have ever seen", with the funding of every area of academic life under threat.

www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/sep/11/jeremy-corbyn-win-mean-for-uk-universities

Luckily that communist didnt get in, phew

There's no doubt about it, we are a visual species ...

Why the U.K. is a democracy in name only....

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/03/britain-democracy-tories-coronavirus-public-power?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_News_Feed&fbclid=IwAR012GCcbMmF_ZBwihKb3MnwcXwu-H5riXV4VPPBGRv_bVH6SJJmcbxXYkg

Unfortunately, I can only agree. It’s just that it has been made even more obvious with the last DC debacle :(

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/hong-kong-crisis-we-will-meet-our-obligations-not-walk-away-zv7f70n29
Boris Johnson on the Hong Kong crisis: We will meet our obligations, not walk away

I thought the people had spoken and we were stopping immigration with Brexit?