The Westminster Arms

[DustyDiamond]

As requested, I have contacted MNHQ via the contact provided in the deletion message

Welcome to The Westminster Arms!

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A non-partisan politics pub thread for political chit chat....!!

Please stick within MN talk guidelines - any posts which you think may have crossed the line, please report rather than getting into scraps on thread 😠

Political punch-ups are soooo last decade - ain't nobody got time for that 🥊❌

Be nice! Be respectful!

S'ok to slag off politicians, but not other posters 🍻

To be fair nobody said it was a heinous crime, it's a drip drip drip effect. If we can't see sex, we can't see sexism, if we can't see sex we can't talk about violence against women and girls, particularly sexual violence, and the fact it is mostly committed by men and boys.

The recent reports on sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools are a case in point; they talk about 'peer on peer' assaults. Why won't they mention that the vast majority of victims are girls and the vast majority of perpetrators are boys?

There has been a very noticeable shift in language over the last few years; as Dusty said, once you have seen it, you can't unsee it.

Anyway, plenty on FWR for those who want to learn more, but I stand by the statement 'people don't have periods, women and girls do'.

Changing the meaning of ordinary words by inverting them is the first step of a slippery slope. Shutting down debate is another. George Orwell sets it out in his book and shows us, step by step, what it leads to.

Identity politics is rife with the same traps and a matter that causes me great concern, but as Dusty points out, once you see it, you can't unsee it.

I'm rather hoping for a reshuffle that's not so radical as to be scary but not so mild as to be merely cosmetic. I think that the choice of Equalities Minister will be a significant indicator of how important women's concerns around safety and around child safeguarding will be treated by this government. Like MrsSnippyPants, I really would welcome some clarity. And obviously, I'm praying that common sense will rule.

I don't! 🙌🙌🙌

I had the uterine ablation thing 2 years ago after getting to the point that I needed regular iron infusions (and was on the verge of an actual blood transfusion by the end)

Actual LIFE CHANGING!

Not a drop since - I feel #blessed 😍😂

....too much information, sorry 😳

But it's really been life-changing!

All good points - I shall make myself more aware and be on the lookout for these issues in the future.

I'm an oldie and never had to think about these issues so much in the olden days. I've always believed in equality but never burned my bra.

I love how the wider remit of the Westminster Arms means we can easily discuss matters like this and still stay within the purpose of the thread, by the way.

Dusty, I know that feeling! Never apologise.

By the way, and a complete change of subject (but still within the spirit of the thread ), my Question of the Day.

Does anyone else mentally add the word "toothbrush" when they say the initials RLB?

“I love how the wider remit of the Westminster Arms means we can easily discuss matters like this and still stay within the purpose of the thread, by the way.”

Me too!!! I think it’s fab. 😊

Singing, I try very hard not to say or think RLB. I notice she still hasn't managed to get on the final ballot paper. And Lisa Nandy is there. That really has surprised me,

Perhaps all of these people are reading this thread and taking notice.

I watched PMQs and did not notice Boris' avoidance of the words women and girls. But, now you point it out it is hard not to unhear it...as Dusty said.
Carrie will be on to it I think.

It will be great if the VAT on Sandro is dropped straight away. It will send a good signal.

Sanpro. Bloody autocorrect.

It has been very reassuring to me to know that Boris has a few GC people around him. I reckon Carrie is, I know his sister is, and Andrew Gilligan certainly is! (Even though he is the transport Tsar or somesuch I'm sure he will speak up on this if it crops up in conversation.)

And yes, it is a very pleasant atmosphere in here, long may it remain so. Glad I found you all!

Dusty glad to hear the ablation has been life changing for you!

I have no periods now due to menopause, but that's a whole other barrel of monkeys!

Boris has a few GC people around him

...and Dominic Cummings is. No doubt about that.

I'd love to know whether Carrie is GC but she is a good friend of Nimco Ali and there is no way anyone with a rational brain could listen to Nimco's campaign and think that girls could "identify" their way out of FGM.

Oh yes Singing how could I forget DC!

I don't post this to be salacious, but just in case anyone wasn't aware of Carrie's background. I get the impression she is a very strong woman.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4987303/John-Worboys-Victim-Carrie-Symonds-story.html

To be fair, I think it's one of those things that you don't see, but then once you see it you can't ever unsee it...

Is exactly why I noticed it! Usually political waffle just goes in one ear, out the other. But after that MPs brave speech about shame and period poverty (sorry, her name escapes me) I was tuned in to his response.
The MP used "women" and "girls" in her speech, so why boris didn't echo her own words is a bit off.....

Ah yes of course, MrsSnippy. I remember that now.

She's a very brave woman indeed.

I think the chances of her being GC just increased exponentially. Without a doubt - and for the saddest of reasons - she will "get it".

I confess I missed it, Boswell. We were watching PMQs but Mr Lily didn't understand the term period poverty so that took up my time and attention.

Having said that, his feminism has come on in leaps and bounds recently. In the days just prior to the GE, I overheard him telling the neighbours why he had a problem with Jo Swinson's definition of "woman".

By the way, let's be careful on here. We know we have to be on best behaviour anyway but it's hard to discuss FWR issues at the best of times. Even though they are inextricably linked to politics.

We want this thread to continue and we definitely don't want any deletions.

I am so disappointed that none of you have got my RLB joke. Or perhaps you did. 😔

Right, so, it's not too early for a drink is it?

Ah Singing, we might not have been laughing with you, but we were laughing near you

I keep saying Rebecca Wrong-Bailey, it's properly stuck in my head!

I agree Singing. And what a crying shame that it needs saying at all. 😞

And, I got the joke 😉

Also agree about tiptoeing round the tulips wrt GC stuff on this thread - which is really shit actually but it's sadly where we're at at the mo 😟

I think I got it but once the word toothbrush was in my head I just kept thinking of Chris Evans (not Captain America, the other one 😂)

Knobbed off a wee bit early from work (flexi time rocks 🙌🙌) so going to watch PMQs now....

I'm trying not to drink midweek (mostly) but it's so relaxing in here today I might have a crisp, dry white wine. I kid myself it's not as bad/strong as red.

I'm trying hard to educate Mr hospitality on GC matters. It's a minefield. He's only just worked out the meaning of woke.

If anyone's interested, BBC2 at 7, Andrew Neil interviewing ET.

Right, so, it's not too early for a drink is it?

Somewhere in the world, the sun is always over the yardarm!

HoC update: MPs have rejected HoL amendments on child refugees, EU citizen rights and the one trying to stop UK courts from overruling the ECJ. I could find you the vote margins but they vary from "huge" to "humongous".

Still waiting for them to vote on the HoL amendment removing Clause 33. This is the clause that would prohibit any further extension to the transition beyond 31 December 2020.

It's on a knife-edge, folks.

OK, I'm joking. It's not. It will be overturned, sure as eggs are eggs.

I think I got the joke... There was a long serving thread host....? Am I warm?

Sadly, no, Xing.

RLB toothbrush. You need to say it aloud.

It is a bit lame. But I just want to add that other brands of toothbrushes are available.