Westministers : Saving the Union

[RedToothBrush]

Apparently we need a tunnel. Just like we needed the £53 million failed Garden Bridge.

Nice little earner for anyone involved.

Tunnel from Scotland to NI? Seems crazy but what do I know?
I expect what’ll finally kill their silly talk will be that it’d link 2 countries not in the U.K., but independent EU members. (Scotland / reunified Ireland)

In an ironic flourish, which history pulls off sometimes, I could see those countries gaining their independence/reunification/EU membership on the same date as the tunnel is finally opened.

And what’s the benefit to England then?

@HesterThrale

Tunnel from Scotland to NI? Seems crazy but what do I know? I expect what’ll finally kill their silly talk will be that it’d link 2 countries not in the U.K., but independent EU members. (Scotland / reunified Ireland)

In an ironic flourish, which history pulls off sometimes, I could see those countries gaining their independence/reunification/EU membership on the same date as the tunnel is finally opened.

And what’s the benefit to England then?

There will be no tunnel.

There will be no bridge.

Geology alone makes it impractical. And that's before you consider the submerged ship of death lurking "somewhere".

However, if we did want a tunnel, then at £15-20 billion it'd probably cost less than the Track and Trace system - and be ready sooner.

My kitchen is full of robots.
Back later

Indeed Mrslaughan

But even taking away the issue of outstanding natural beauty, Campbeltown which isn't even the most southerly point of the peninsula is still also a 136 miles from Glasgow, almost all of which is on windy narrow country roads even if they're A roads So to be feasible, he'd also have to bulldoze about 100 miles of new road (with road building and planning being devolved powers ) and/or build a few more bridges/tunnels to get across the sea lochs

Geography, let alone civil engineering, isn't one of BJ and his acolytes strong points

@ListeningQuietly

My kitchen is full of robots. Back later

Is that the 21st century version of "My hovercraft is full of eels." ?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort%27s_Dyke#Dumped_munitions

and

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort%27s_Dyke#Nuclear_waste

In February 2020, the UK government announced an initial investigation into a Scotland–Northern Ireland bridge. Two possible routes were proposed: Portpatrick–Larne and Kintyre peninsula–Torr Head. The Portpatrick route would cross the dyke.[4] Explosive ordnance advisers Exord cast doubt on the Portpatrick route saying "any intrusive works such as piling associated with the construction of bridges would pose an unacceptable level of risk".[8]

Mind you, if that were to blow, it would be the end of UK fishing, with all that nasty chemicals and nuclear waste going into the surrounding water.

My guess is they’ll spend about 6 months undergoing “consultancy and planning”

The organisations doing these will be mates of BJ. They’ll cream off about 20mil and finally come round to the fact it’s a fucking stupid idea, like anyone with half a brain can see within a minute or two.

Pmk, cheers Red and everyone.

Yeah, I agree there’ll be no bridge or tunnel. But that yes, precious money will be wasted on considering it before it’s binned. (Cf Garden Bridge.)

It’s just silly talk designed to appeal to a certain sector of the electorate. And maybe make some Scots/NI people feel they haven’t been forgotten? Although I reckon most folk can see through it.

Johnson wants his place in history as a forward-thinking innovator. He doesn’t care how much taxpayers’ money he has to spaff to get it.

Now what Labour must do is present an alternative forward-thinking innovative set of policies to help people and planet. Ones that actually make sense.

Yeah, I agree there’ll be no bridge or tunnel. But that yes, precious money will be wasted on considering it before it’s binned. (Cf Garden Bridge.)

The UK could have put a man on the moon for the amount Brexit and Covid have cost.

The annoying thing is that the money wasted spent on cronies "experts" doing the feasibility study on a obviously not feasible tunnel would be paid for in part by Scotland as it would be deemed under the Barnett Formula to be UK infrastructure that benefits Scotland

What would benefit Scotland would be lack of red tape dealing with the EU. You know, like a Single Market and a Customs Union

Still, if Johnson thinks that will boost his cause in Scotland, he has another think coming.

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/dup-minister-considers-swiss-style-deal-but-says-it-would-result-in-uk-slavishly-following-eu-rules/17/02/

A DUP minister has said she would not oppose an EU/UK deal on agri-food movement similar to the one the bloc has with Switzerland.

Stormont economy minister Diane Dodds she would not be against anything that offered “short-term relief” from recent Irish Sea trade disruption.

(contd)

Agree with PP the tunnel/burrow/bridge or whatever the next infrastructure project is won’t happen, but you can be sure there’s an opportunity to siphon tax revenue to cronies.

Beaufort Dyke is best left alone.
The munition dump that the UK Government should be worrying about is this one
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Richard_Montgomery

Just taken a call from our surgery ... tomorrow 11:15 - vaccine time :) DW & I.

If you don't hear from me again, it didn't go well .

@DGRossetti

Just taken a call from our surgery ... tomorrow 11:15 - vaccine time :) DW & I.

If you don't hear from me again, it didn't go well .

DGR thats brilliant news for you both.

Glad to hear it. Hopefully you can enjoy this summer

Once again, god bless the NHS - god bless it, god bless it, god bless it.

I appear to have something in my eye.

@DGRossetti

Just taken a call from our surgery ... tomorrow 11:15 - vaccine time :) DW & I.

If you don't hear from me again, it didn't go well .

SPLENDID news.

We'll know where to find you afterwards as the Bill Gates tracker will tell us

PMK

Great news DGR! Glad to hear it.

Everyone I know who’s had the jab so far has praised the efficiency of the service. The NHS at its best.

Oh yes it was very smooth when I went for mine. I had to queue outside for quite a while but the hold up seemed to be having space in the post jab waiting room. Everyone was cheerful and many people in the queue commented that they'd happily wait all night if it meant they got their vaccine, I heartily agreed! Was very cold though, I strongly recommend dressing to wait in the cold rain for a while and if it doesn't happen then all the better.

there’ll be no bridge or tunnel

A Garden Bridge for London after all - in Keir Starmer's constituency;

15th February 2021 - the winner!

The design of Camden Highline has been awarded to a team led by James Corner Field Operations, the firm behind South Park at Q.E. Olympic Park and New York High Line...

MP for Holborn & St Pancras, Keir Starmer, said: “Camden Highline is an ambitious project to bring new life to old rail infrastructure, connect our communities and increase our access to green space. This new link has the potential to support our mental and physical wellbeing, which is so important as we move forward from this pandemic. I am really looking forward to seeing the plans take shape.”

www.camdenhighline.com/design-competition

Camden Highline FAQs:

What have you achieved so far?
We've completed feasibility work that shows the project is technically and financially possible...
The project has received wide-ranging political and other support...including the Mayor of London, Camden Council, MHCLG hundreds of Camden businesses, individuals and various trusts and foundations.

How much will the Camden Highline cost?
As much as we want to spend! How long is a piece of string...
The headline cost is large (yes, tens of millions), but it can be broken down into parts...

Why is the Camden Highline temporary?
Network Rail own the infrastructure the Camden Highline would re-use, and they may need it for rail use at an unknown point in the future to increase capacity on the North London Line.

www.camdenhighline.com/faqs

@HesterThrale

Great news DGR! Glad to hear it.

Everyone I know who’s had the jab so far has praised the efficiency of the service. The NHS at its best.

Less than 24 hours notice !

Great news DGR and your DW!

DGR Very glad to hear you're both within reach of the vaccine.

I should warn you however that they don't offer tea and biscuits afterwards

I had my jab about three weeks ago and when the guy with the trolley paused by my cubicle I said I'll have a coffee and a couple of digestives 'Not from this trolley you won't' he said as he filled the syringe... they don't do haircuts either.