Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
If only we were part of a large trading bloc with global influence..... *sigh!*
Can we please try and keep the mind-numbingly tedious Brexit debate out of it for once?
I’m bored shitless by it and can’t be arsed.
Thanks.
"Truth hurts - not as much as sitting on a bicycle with no saddle, but it hurts just the same"
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
The West is divided and does not really care about HK. Britain is bothered with Brexit and in no position to do anything. Russia doesn’t care and probably would like it if a big country bullies a small part of its empire.
So it all feels a bit like Hungary 1956.
(For the hard of comprehension, this does not mean that I think Brexit is like the invasion of Hungary by the Warsaw Pact. One has to be so careful these days...... ).
UK could do nothing in any event , China would swat them in any agenda , be it financial , goods , military. Best to shut yup and keep their heads down rather than be shown to really be impotent fools.
Malcolm you've had a moment of clarity.
We could indeed do f*** all about it. The Chinese pledged that HK would stay "wu shi nian bu bian" (fifty years without change) but not only are we well into that period (and here's us saying things have changed constitutionally since June 2016) but for China, HK is an inviolable part of China, and whether legitimate or not, they evidently see a threat to their political system there and there is not much that we can do about it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
If only we were part of a large trading bloc with global influence..... *sigh!*
Can we please try and keep the mind-numbingly tedious Brexit debate out of it for once?
I’m bored shitless by it and can’t be arsed.
Thanks.
"Truth hurts - not as much as sitting on a bicycle with no saddle, but it hurts just the same"
- Lt. Frank Drebbin, Police Squad.
Let make it simple for you: if you bring Brexit into it (again) I’ll simply withdraw from the thread and leave you to it.
I’m rather tired of how someone tries to bring the subject into play every time we try and talk about something else.
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
But surely they can always hit us harder in retaliation? Maybe we are trying back channel stuff and it's getting nowhere.
I pity the poor people of Hong Kong for being on their own with all this
If we want our values to win out one day, worldwide, we need to grow a pair of balls.
Principles aren’t principles if they don’t cost you anything. China depend on us buying their tat; they’re not omnipotent.
195 is the sum of eleven consecutive primes whereas 331 is a prime
Neither are new
You haven't really got the hang of this railway lark, have you!
Spend a day out with Sunil - it will be an eye-opener...
More likely an eye closer, be snoozing in no time.
Next week, planning to do Croy to Alloa, Ayr to Stranraer and at least one of Cardross to Oban or Cardross to Fort William/Mallaig, given that the line won't reopen till the Thursday. Stirling to Perth could well be a consolation, or past there to Dundee, time permitting.
They were having lots of problems with Ayr - Stranraer as they had to shut station due to the huge Ayr Station Hotel crumbling on to platforms etc. Think it is all shored up now and they are talking about a new station in future nearer town centre , planning to also demolish some 60's eyesore public buildings. PS: You will pass through the metropolis of Kilwinning on way to Ayr, give me a wave.
I suspect this will end with Boris begging Corbyn to VONC him - anything to put him out of his No Deal misery or avoid the sobriquet 'Boris the Betrayer'.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
If only we were part of a large trading bloc with global influence..... *sigh!*
Can we please try and keep the mind-numbingly tedious Brexit debate out of it for once?
I’m bored shitless by it and can’t be arsed.
Thanks.
"Truth hurts - not as much as sitting on a bicycle with no saddle, but it hurts just the same"
- Lt. Frank Drebbin, Police Squad.
"Like a blind man at an orgy, I was gonna have to feel my way out."
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
The West is divided and does not really care about HK. Britain is bothered with Brexit and in no position to do anything. Russia doesn’t care and probably would like it if a big country bullies a small part of its empire.
So it all feels a bit like Hungary 1956.
(For the hard of comprehension, this does not mean that I think Brexit is like the invasion of Hungary by the Warsaw Pact. One has to be so careful these days...... ).
You say that but we managed a coordinated response to the Salisbury attacks.
It’s probably more accurate to say the West has become more insular with regard to security and economic self-interests and is far less bothered about asserting its values worldwide.
You have been a tireless porte-drapeau for making Britain more insular so it's a bit late for being salty about reduced influence now.
We can all come up with long lists of excuses about why we can’t do anything.
Like i said, it’s about leadership.
It is impossible for any man, of late, to have set foot beyond the shores of these islands, without observing with deep mortification a great and sudden change in the manner in which England is spoken of abroad; without finding, that instead of being looked up to as the patron, no less than the model, of constitutional freedom, as the refuge from persecution, and the shield against oppression, her name is coupled by every tongue on the continent with everything that is hostile to improvement, and friendly to despotism, from the banks of the Tagus to the shores of the Bosphorus...time was, and that but lately, when England was regarded by Europe as the friend of liberty and civilization, and therefore of happiness and prosperity, in every land; because it was thought that her rulers had the wisdom to discover, that the selfish interests and political influence of England were best promoted by the extension of liberty and civilization. - Palmerston
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
But surely they can always hit us harder in retaliation? Maybe we are trying back channel stuff and it's getting nowhere.
I pity the poor people of Hong Kong for being on their own with all this
If we want our values to win out one day, worldwide, we need to grow a pair of balls.
Principles aren’t principles if they don’t cost you anything. China depend on us buying their tat; they’re not omnipotent.
Your tat is my iPhone.
Is it only the Chinese who can make them, uniquely?
Or do they just do it at a price we like?
Might as well be the same question. We are not about to harm our bottom line, in that way at least.
We regulate products, goods, standards and for ethics all the time. And factories and supply chains modify and adjust every few years.
This is no different.
It is China asserting itself. It is not going to be deflected by any pressure we can apply.
Europe stood by while Putin helped the Syrian mass murderer kill tens of thousands if civilians and make refugees of millions, more or less on its doorstep. Do you think a city attached to the Chinese mainland will get any consideration ?
And the world’s onetime policeman is now interested only in US interests.
We can all come up with long lists of excuses about why we can’t do anything.
Like i said, it’s about leadership.
I didn't realise you were an aficionado of Beyond the Fringe... "I want you to lay down your life, Perkins. We need a futile gesture at this stage. It will raise the whole tone of the war. Get up in a crate, Perkins, pop over to Bremen, take a shufti, don't come back. Goodbye, Perkins. God, I wish I was going too."
We can all come up with long lists of excuses about why we can’t do anything.
Like i said, it’s about leadership.
It is impossible for any man, of late, to have set foot beyond the shores of these islands, without observing with deep mortification a great and sudden change in the manner in which England is spoken of abroad; without finding, that instead of being looked up to as the patron, no less than the model, of constitutional freedom, as the refuge from persecution, and the shield against oppression, her name is coupled by every tongue on the continent with everything that is hostile to improvement, and friendly to despotism, from the banks of the Tagus to the shores of the Bosphorus...time was, and that but lately, when England was regarded by Europe as the friend of liberty and civilization, and therefore of happiness and prosperity, in every land; because it was thought that her rulers had the wisdom to discover, that the selfish interests and political influence of England were best promoted by the extension of liberty and civilization. - Palmerston
195 is the sum of eleven consecutive primes whereas 331 is a prime
Neither are new
You haven't really got the hang of this railway lark, have you!
Spend a day out with Sunil - it will be an eye-opener...
More likely an eye closer, be snoozing in no time.
Next week, planning to do Croy to Alloa, Ayr to Stranraer and at least one of Cardross to Oban or Cardross to Fort William/Mallaig, given that the line won't reopen till the Thursday. Stirling to Perth could well be a consolation, or past there to Dundee, time permitting.
They were having lots of problems with Ayr - Stranraer as they had to shut station due to the huge Ayr Station Hotel crumbling on to platforms etc. Think it is all shored up now and they are talking about a new station in future nearer town centre , planning to also demolish some 60's eyesore public buildings. PS: You will pass through the metropolis of Kilwinning on way to Ayr, give me a wave.
Reached Ayr back in 2017, but will still wave!
Ayr to Stranraer should be OK, it's the line between Ardlui and Crianlarich that's closed due to the weather causing the line to be washed away.
195 is the sum of eleven consecutive primes whereas 331 is a prime
Neither are new
You haven't really got the hang of this railway lark, have you!
Spend a day out with Sunil - it will be an eye-opener...
More likely an eye closer, be snoozing in no time.
Next week, planning to do Croy to Alloa, Ayr to Stranraer and at least one of Cardross to Oban or Cardross to Fort William/Mallaig, given that the line won't reopen till the Thursday. Stirling to Perth could well be a consolation, or past there to Dundee, time permitting.
I would suggest you do the Oban line. You can do Fort W / Mallaig as part of a circular trip via Skye on ferry & bus and the Kyle - Inverness line.
Best way to get to Fort W is on the sleeper (conveys 'day' passengers from Edinburgh and Glasgow if you aren't doing it from London - and don't be put off by the spurious guff about compulsory reservations for day passengers), then you can do the kettle to Mallaig.
195 is the sum of eleven consecutive primes whereas 331 is a prime
Neither are new
You haven't really got the hang of this railway lark, have you!
Spend a day out with Sunil - it will be an eye-opener...
More likely an eye closer, be snoozing in no time.
Next week, planning to do Croy to Alloa, Ayr to Stranraer and at least one of Cardross to Oban or Cardross to Fort William/Mallaig, given that the line won't reopen till the Thursday. Stirling to Perth could well be a consolation, or past there to Dundee, time permitting.
They were having lots of problems with Ayr - Stranraer as they had to shut station due to the huge Ayr Station Hotel crumbling on to platforms etc. Think it is all shored up now and they are talking about a new station in future nearer town centre , planning to also demolish some 60's eyesore public buildings. PS: You will pass through the metropolis of Kilwinning on way to Ayr, give me a wave.
Reached Ayr back in 2017, but will still wave!
Ayr to Stranraer should be OK, it's the line between Ardlui and Crianlarich that's closed due to the weather causing the line to be washed away.
I am sure it is open again now, was out for a good while recently at Ayr till they managed to shore up the building. Meant buses etc for a time.
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
But surely they can always hit us harder in retaliation? Maybe we are trying back channel stuff and it's getting nowhere.
I pity the poor people of Hong Kong for being on their own with all this
If we want our values to win out one day, worldwide, we need to grow a pair of balls.
Principles aren’t principles if they don’t cost you anything. China depend on us buying their tat; they’re not omnipotent.
Your tat is my iPhone.
Is it only the Chinese who can make them, uniquely?
Or do they just do it at a price we like?
Might as well be the same question. We are not about to harm our bottom line, in that way at least.
W
This is no different.
It is China asserting itself. It is not going to be deflected by any pressure we can apply.
Europe stood by while Putin helped the Syrian mass murderer kill tens of thousands if civilians and make refugees of millions, more or less on its doorstep. Do you think a city attached to the Chinese mainland will get any consideration ?
And the world’s onetime policeman is now interested only in US interests.
We can all come up with long lists of excuses about why we can’t do anything.
Like i said, it’s about leadership.
I didn't realise you were an aficionado of Beyond the Fringe... "I want you to lay down your life, Perkins. We need a futile gesture at this stage. It will raise the whole tone of the war. Get up in a crate, Perkins, pop over to Bremen, take a shufti, don't come back. Goodbye, Perkins. God, I wish I was going too."
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
The West is divided and does not really care about HK. Britain is bothered with Brexit and in no position to do anything. Russia doesn’t care and probably would like it if a big country bullies a small part of its empire.
So it all feels a bit like Hungary 1956.
(For the hard of comprehension, this does not mean that I think Brexit is like the invasion of Hungary by the Warsaw Pact. One has to be so careful these days...... ).
You say that but we managed a coordinated response to the Salisbury attacks.
It’s probably more accurate to say the West has become more insular with regard to security and economic self-interests and is far less bothered about asserting its values worldwide.
You have been a tireless porte-drapeau for making Britain more insular so it's a bit late for being salty about reduced influence now.
Another pub bore appears.
Normally you inject some pre-pubescent juvenile banter into your posts to liven up their utter banality, but even that’s missing here.
Surely if BJ calls an election for October, Corbyn (wanting any election after a no deal departure) would say that although he wants an election having it now would be crazy and Labour would not vote for it.
At any other time Corbyn could be portrayed as a "chicken" but in this specific instance that attack line doesn't really work.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
If only we were part of a large trading bloc with global influence..... *sigh!*
Can we please try and keep the mind-numbingly tedious Brexit debate out of it for once?
I’m bored shitless by it and can’t be arsed.
Thanks.
"Truth hurts - not as much as sitting on a bicycle with no saddle, but it hurts just the same"
- Lt. Frank Drebbin, Police Squad.
Let make it simple for you: if you bring Brexit into it (again) I’ll simply withdraw from the thread and leave you to it.
I’m rather tired of how someone tries to bring the subject into play every time we try and talk about something else.
It’s extremely boring.
Beverly's snide remarks aside, I think Brexit is potentially material to the discussion though on China. Hong Kong is solely a UK hinterland in the european sphere, France and Germany simply won't care about it as much as the UK.
If we're outwith the EU's orbit with respect to trading relationships then our own trade terms with China can be targetted much more acutely by Beijing when it comes to FTA etc talks.
That means we might not be able to apply as much pressure on China over HK as we otherwise would within the EU's orbit. That's true for plenty of other nations too - but particularly troublesome with China as they hold a considerable size advantage over us.
In other news, it appears the Russians have admitted that their recent not-a-nuclear-missile-honest-guv explosion was, in fact, an explosion involving a nuclear rector. Which just so happened to be on a missile range.
Obviously, the perfect place to have a nuclear reactor is on a missile range - if you're not building a nuclear-powered missile, that is.
(There are massive concerns to be had over such missiles from an ecological and environmental point of view, yet alone militarily.)
Equally off topic but related, I notice there is a lot of naval activity in the Channel this morning. A navy contact tells me that at least two Russian mini submarines hanging around the sub-channel cables have been detected and seen off in the last few weeks. As well as tapping communications it isn’t impossible that their activity had something to do with the recent power outages.
Interesting if true.
I believe one of the most important acts the UK did to win the First World War was done in the first few hours of the conflict, when we cut Germany's international cables - several of which went through the UK's waters. This forced them to communicate more by radio, which we could then intercept.
Eventually that one act won us the war (see as an example the Zimmerman Telegram).
In other news, it appears the Russians have admitted that their recent not-a-nuclear-missile-honest-guv explosion was, in fact, an explosion involving a nuclear rector. Which just so happened to be on a missile range.
Obviously, the perfect place to have a nuclear reactor is on a missile range - if you're not building a nuclear-powered missile, that is.
(There are massive concerns to be had over such missiles from an ecological and environmental point of view, yet alone militarily.)
Equally off topic but related, I notice there is a lot of naval activity in the Channel this morning. A navy contact tells me that at least two Russian mini submarines hanging around the sub-channel cables have been detected and seen off in the last few weeks. As well as tapping communications it isn’t impossible that their activity had something to do with the recent power outages.
Russia is a powder keg at the moment. The protests in Moscow are continuing to escalate, and there are signs of splits within the power vertical.
Normally transferring wealth to Gold is hedging. There is zero return apart from appreciation / depreciation. Now, you also do it for returns as it is mostly negative elsewhere.
But surely they can always hit us harder in retaliation? Maybe we are trying back channel stuff and it's getting nowhere.
I pity the poor people of Hong Kong for being on their own with all this
If we want our values to win out one day, worldwide, we need to grow a pair of balls.
Principles aren’t principles if they don’t cost you anything. China depend on us buying their tat; they’re not omnipotent.
Your tat is my iPhone.
Is it only the Chinese who can make them, uniquely?
Or do they just do it at a price we like?
Might as well be the same question. We are not about to harm our bottom line, in that way at least.
This is no different.
It is China asserting itself. It is not going to be deflected by any pressure we can apply.
Europe stood by while Putin helped the Syrian mass murderer kill tens of thousands if civilians and make refugees of millions, more or less on its doorstep. Do you think a city attached to the Chinese mainland will get any consideration ?
And the world’s onetime policeman is now interested only in US interests.
We can all come up with long lists of excuses about why we can’t do anything.
Like i said, it’s about leadership.
I didn't realise you were an aficionado of Beyond the Fringe... "I want you to lay down your life, Perkins. We need a futile gesture at this stage. It will raise the whole tone of the war. Get up in a crate, Perkins, pop over to Bremen, take a shufti, don't come back. Goodbye, Perkins. God, I wish I was going too."
Nope. That’s just a bit of ad hominem from you.
Not ad hom, so much as an ironic comment on the futility of what you are suggesting.
If you hadn't noticed, the US is currently engaged in a trade war with China involving tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods. It does not appear to be shifting their stance.
They are far more likely to move on that than take any notice of what they view as interference in their domestic interests. And our leverage is a minute fraction of that available to the US.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Surely if BJ calls an election for October, Corbyn (wanting any election after a no deal departure) would say that although he wants an election having it now would be crazy and Labour would not vote for it.
At any other time Corbyn could be portrayed as a "chicken" but in this specific instance that attack line doesn't really work.
In the (unlikely) event of Johnson trying to call an election under the FTPA procedure I think Labour would demand an extension of A50 as the price of their support. And since that would blow his "do or die" commitment to leave on 31 October it's not going to happen.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Is she? I thought a lot of people hold her responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
If only we were part of a large trading bloc with global influence..... *sigh!*
Can we please try and keep the mind-numbingly tedious Brexit debate out of it for once?
I’m bored shitless by it and can’t be arsed.
Thanks.
"Truth hurts - not as much as sitting on a bicycle with no saddle, but it hurts just the same"
- Lt. Frank Drebbin, Police Squad.
Let make it simple for you: if you bring Brexit into it (again) I’ll simply withdraw from the thread and leave you to it.
I’m rather tired of how someone tries to bring the subject into play every time we try and talk about something else.
It’s extremely boring.
Beverly's snide remarks aside, I think Brexit is potentially material to the discussion though on China. Hong Kong is solely a UK hinterland in the european sphere, France and Germany simply won't care about it as much as the UK.
If we're outwith the EU's orbit with respect to trading relationships then our own trade terms with China can be targetted much more acutely by Beijing when it comes to FTA etc talks.
That means we might not be able to apply as much pressure on China over HK as we otherwise would within the EU's orbit. That's true for plenty of other nations too - but particularly troublesome with China as they hold a considerable size advantage over us.
It’s a complicating factor. But we were buttering up the Chinese via Osborne well before Brexit and playing down the human rights issues too.
The UK has a long history of genuflecting to the Chinese in the hope we’ll get something out of it, something that the (Europhile) Chris Patten talks extensively about in his books.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
It is pretty odd to make comments like this about someone who passed away (at a guess) the best part of 20 years ago. They have no relevance to anything as far as I can see.
Mr. Glenn, that might not be hugely surprising. Putin's been there for two decades (eight years as president, a four year 'I'm just the PM' interval, then another eight years) and he needs to take a break again soon. Perhaps permanently.
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
The West is divided and does not really care about HK. Britain is bothered with Brexit and in no position to do anything. Russia doesn’t care and probably would like it if a big country bullies a small part of its empire.
So it all feels a bit like Hungary 1956.
(For the hard of comprehension, this does not mean that I think Brexit is like the invasion of Hungary by the Warsaw Pact. One has to be so careful these days...... ).
You say that but we managed a coordinated response to the Salisbury attacks.
It’s probably more accurate to say the West has become more insular with regard to security and economic self-interests and is far less bothered about asserting its values worldwide.
You have been a tireless porte-drapeau for making Britain more insular so it's a bit late for being salty about reduced influence now.
Another pub bore appears.
Normally you inject some pre-pubescent juvenile banter into your posts to liven up their utter banality, but even that’s missing here.
Is "pre-pubescent juvenile" tautological? Or even possible, given accepted physiological and social age ranges? Asking for a fellow PB pedant friend.
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
But surely they can always hit us harder in retaliation? Maybe we are trying back channel stuff and it's getting nowhere.
I pity the poor people of Hong Kong for being on their own with all this
If we want our values to win out one day, worldwide, we need to grow a pair of balls.
Principles aren’t principles if they don’t cost you anything. China depend on us buying their tat; they’re not omnipotent.
Your tat is my iPhone.
Is it only the Chinese who can make them, uniquely?
Or do they just do it at a price we like?
Might as well be the same question. We are not about to harm our bottom line, in that way at least.
We regulate products, goods, standards and for ethics all the time. And factories and supply chains modify and adjust every few years.
This is no different.
It is China asserting itself. It is not going to be deflected by any pressure we can apply.
Europe stood by while Putin helped the Syrian mass murderer kill tens of thousands if civilians and make refugees of millions, more or less on its doorstep. Do you think a city attached to the Chinese mainland will get any consideration ?
And the world’s onetime policeman is now interested only in US interests.
We can all come up with long lists of excuses about why we can’t do anything.
Like i said, it’s about leadership.
What will be the charge ? Sending tanks to their won country ? Let's face it, Hong Kong has some rights but it is legally part of China. Like Puerto Rico is part of the US.
But surely they can always hit us harder in retaliation? Maybe we are trying back channel stuff and it's getting nowhere.
I pity the poor people of Hong Kong for being on their own with all this
If we want our values to win out one day, worldwide, we need to grow a pair of balls.
Principles aren’t principles if they don’t cost you anything. China depend on us buying their tat; they’re not omnipotent.
Your tat is my iPhone.
Is it only the Chinese who can make them, uniquely?
Or do they just do it at a price we like?
Might as well be the same question. We are not about to harm our bottom line, in that way at least.
This is no different.
It is China asserting itself. It is not going to be deflected by any pressure we can apply.
Europe stood by while Putin helped the Syrian mass murderer kill tens of thousands if civilians and make refugees of millions, more or less on its doorstep. Do you think a city attached to the Chinese mainland will get any consideration ?
And the world’s onetime policeman is now interested only in US interests.
We can all come up with long lists of excuses about why we can’t do anything.
Like i said, it’s about leadership.
I didn't realise you were an aficionado of Beyond the Fringe... "I want you to lay down your life, Perkins. We need a futile gesture at this stage. It will raise the whole tone of the war. Get up in a crate, Perkins, pop over to Bremen, take a shufti, don't come back. Goodbye, Perkins. God, I wish I was going too."
Nope. That’s just a bit of ad hominem from you.
Not ad hom, so much as an ironic comment on the futility of what you are suggesting.
If you hadn't noticed, the US is currently engaged in a trade war with China involving tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods. It does not appear to be shifting their stance.
They are far more likely to move on that than take any notice of what they view as interference in their domestic interests. And our leverage is a minute fraction of that available to the US.
Do we know it’s not shifting their stance?
I don’t share the view that how China treats its citizens is uniquely none of our business.
It’s quite clear to me they’re repressed and, as Hong Kong and Taiwan show, they’d far rather have personal freedom and see the West as their natural allies.
Normally transferring wealth to Gold is hedging. There is zero return apart from appreciation / depreciation. Now, you also do it for returns as it is mostly negative elsewhere.
Yeah, I have been buying into and out of the Gold & General Trust for years, since before the financial crisis, and on average I am up over 33% with a good spurt recently. But on an average annualised basis the return has only been about 2.5%
Normally transferring wealth to Gold is hedging. There is zero return apart from appreciation / depreciation. Now, you also do it for returns as it is mostly negative elsewhere.
Yeah, I have been buying into and out of the Gold & General Trust for years, since before the financial crisis, and on average I am up over 33% with a good spurt recently. But on an average annualised basis the return has only been about 2.5%
In other news, it appears the Russians have admitted that their recent not-a-nuclear-missile-honest-guv explosion was, in fact, an explosion involving a nuclear rector. Which just so happened to be on a missile range.
Obviously, the perfect place to have a nuclear reactor is on a missile range - if you're not building a nuclear-powered missile, that is.
(There are massive concerns to be had over such missiles from an ecological and environmental point of view, yet alone militarily.)
Equally off topic but related, I notice there is a lot of naval activity in the Channel this morning. A navy contact tells me that at least two Russian mini submarines hanging around the sub-channel cables have been detected and seen off in the last few weeks. As well as tapping communications it isn’t impossible that their activity had something to do with the recent power outages.
Interesting if true.
I believe one of the most important acts the UK did to win the First World War was done in the first few hours of the conflict, when we cut Germany's international cables - several of which went through the UK's waters. This forced them to communicate more by radio, which we could then intercept.
Eventually that one act won us the war (see as an example the Zimmerman Telegram).
The plan to build a submarine net between Dover and Calais was less sensible, however, with construction of the necessary towers only 25% complete by the time the war ended.
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
The West is divided and does not really care about HK. Britain is bothered with Brexit and in no position to do anything. Russia doesn’t care and probably would like it if a big country bullies a small part of its empire.
So it all feels a bit like Hungary 1956.
(For the hard of comprehension, this does not mean that I think Brexit is like the invasion of Hungary by the Warsaw Pact. One has to be so careful these days...... ).
You say that but we managed a coordinated response to the Salisbury attacks.
It’s probably more accurate to say the West has become more insular with regard to security and economic self-interests and is far less bothered about asserting its values worldwide.
You have been a tireless porte-drapeau for making Britain more insular so it's a bit late for being salty about reduced influence now.
Another pub bore appears.
Normally you inject some pre-pubescent juvenile banter into your posts to liven up their utter banality, but even that’s missing here.
Is "pre-pubescent juvenile" tautological? Or even possible, given accepted physiological and social age ranges? Asking for a fellow PB pedant friend.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Was it really that derogatory? I only caught that bit of the interview - but surely Gin-drinking chain-smoking, coming from Farage is a compliment?
Mr. Topping, as you can have a pubescent juvenile I would agree* it is not a tautology.
Edited extra bit: *ahem. I meant 'argue'.
yes it's a talking point. Because by the time they are pubescent they are juveniles. So. Googling what age does puberty occur it seems that for girls it is 10-14 while for boys it is 12-16 yrs old. Googling what age are juveniles yields between 10-17 yrs old. So, for, say, a boy (I think @Dura_Ace is a boy so let's use that) a pre-pubescent juvenile would have to be, to be safe, 10-12 yrs old. So @Casino_Royale was saying that he expects @Dura_Ace to make a joke that a 10-12 year old male would make. Fair enough. Seems quite specific but it does work.
I withdraw.
Edit: for girls, it's trickier but anyway let's move this on.
Normally transferring wealth to Gold is hedging. There is zero return apart from appreciation / depreciation. Now, you also do it for returns as it is mostly negative elsewhere.
Yeah, I have been buying into and out of the Gold & General Trust for years, since before the financial crisis, and on average I am up over 33% with a good spurt recently. But on an average annualised basis the return has only been about 2.5%
HODL
It's certainly not a sell at the moment. Everything depends on how long Trump can keep his plates spinning.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Is she? I thought a lot of people hold her responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster.
Eh? I've never heard that suggested - sounds like a twitter conspiracy theory.
The people responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster were Charles and Diana.
One explanation I read (forget where) is that the car was set up specifically for Verstappen and it's a bugger for most others to try and drive. If Albon's a similar margin behind it won't look good for Red Bull.
Bit miffed I missed the boat though. A little bit earlier and some nice odds might've been had.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Is she? I thought a lot of people hold her responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster.
Eh? I've never heard that suggested - sounds like a twitter conspiracy theory.
The people responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster were Charles and Diana.
I think the conspiracy theory goes is that the royals offed Diana because she was going out with an Arab.
One explanation I read (forget where) is that the car was set up specifically for Verstappen and it's a bugger for most others to try and drive. If Albon's a similar margin behind it won't look good for Red Bull.
Bit miffed I missed the boat though. A little bit earlier and some nice odds might've been had.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Is she? I thought a lot of people hold her responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster.
Eh? I've never heard that suggested - sounds like a twitter conspiracy theory.
The people responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster were Charles and Camilla.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Is she? I thought a lot of people hold her responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster.
Of course we wont. What do you want us to do? Even stern words against China is pushing it for us these days and they know it.
Coordinated economic and political pressure amongst all Western countries through backchannels into China. Public won’t work as they’re all about face.
Make clear if the Bill isn’t dropped a few deals and trading arrangements will be dropped, and a few other Chinese visas and investments dropped.
The West is divided and does not really care about HK. Britain is bothered with Brexit and in no position to do anything. Russia doesn’t care and probably would like it if a big country bullies a small part of its empire.
So it all feels a bit like Hungary 1956.
(For the hard of comprehension, this does not mean that I think Brexit is like the invasion of Hungary by the Warsaw Pact. One has to be so careful these days...... ).
You say that but we managed a coordinated response to the Salisbury attacks.
It’s probably more accurate to say the West has become more insular with regard to security and economic self-interests and is far less bothered about asserting its values worldwide.
You have been a tireless porte-drapeau for making Britain more insular so it's a bit late for being salty about reduced influence now.
Another pub bore appears.
Normally you inject some pre-pubescent juvenile banter into your posts to liven up their utter banality, but even that’s missing here.
Is "pre-pubescent juvenile" tautological? Or even possible, given accepted physiological and social age ranges? Asking for a fellow PB pedant friend.
I'm pretty sure Prince Andrew might have a view.
Good old randy Andy with his weapons sales and love of the ladies. Keeping the British end up.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Is she? I thought a lot of people hold her responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster.
Eh? I've never heard that suggested - sounds like a twitter conspiracy theory.
The people responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster were Charles and Diana.
I thought he was very much encouraged to marry someone 13 years younger than him and the person doing the encouraging was Cookie.
But then, I got very lucky in 2016 so I can't complain too much.
Albon's odds of 41ish (that's Betfair Sportsbook) are significantly shorter than Gasly's 126. I don't think his odds will fall much.
I do think Red Bull might be underestimated, as they're developing tremendously well recently, but for Albon to finish 1 or 2 would be astounding, possibly even more so than Verstappen's inaugural victory in Spain.
Surely he must be tempted to go sooner while Corbyn is still in post and the opposition is split. I can't see BP being much of a threat if he is advocating WTO Brexit.
But then, I got very lucky in 2016 so I can't complain too much.
Albon's odds of 41ish (that's Betfair Sportsbook) are significantly shorter than Gasly's 126. I don't think his odds will fall much.
I do think Red Bull might be underestimated, as they're developing tremendously well recently, but for Albon to finish 1 or 2 would be astounding, possibly even more so than Verstappen's inaugural victory in Spain.
Edited extra bit: ha. Shows what I know.
Thanks I found Albon at 41 - However Ms Brisk has taken a hardline veto on this one on the basis "he isn't going to win"
The return to a more overt authoritarianism under Xi Jinping is having consequences throughout Asia. I suspect Kim Jong-Un has been reminded who butters his bread and we've seen a return to a more low-level tension with the US which suits China fine - it keeps Washington off balance while strengthening the covert Chinese hold on Pyongyang.
Hong Kong is another matter because the unspoken covenant which has applied across large parts of East Asia (as it did in its time in Europe too) is breaking down - namely, the community is told "Make money not trouble" - a kind of Guizot like "enrichessez vous" and this is fine up to a point (Singapore does it well) but the problem with middle class aspiration is that in time it leads to a recognition of the inefficiency of the authoritarian state and a desire to replace it with something better (Britain, America and France all went down this road).
Hong Kong has in abundance what the mainland lacks - a strong, well educated and politically aware middle class which doesn't want the authoritarian trappings of Marxism and wants an evolutionary political power but Beijing knows if it concedes here it will be the beginning of the long road toward the end of the Communist State.
I don't know what we can or should do in all honesty. We stripped BDTC passport holders from Hong Kong of their right of abode in the UK replacing them with BNO passports which allowed only holiday travel. The late Paddy Ashdown was angry about this and I can't help but wonder whether in the light of events this was a terrible mistake.
Surely he must be tempted to go sooner while Corbyn is still in post and the opposition is split. I can't see BP being much of a threat if he is advocating WTO Brexit.
The tories will lose most of their 13 Scottish seats and a few in the home counties.
How nasty of the MSM to use Farage's own words against him.
“Terrifying! Here was Harry, here he was this young, brave, boisterous, all male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem. And then, a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan. He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years......
.....Farage’s reference to “dressing up inappropriately” is an allusion to photographs of Harry at a 2005 party dressed in a Nazi uniform.
Not ad hom, so much as an ironic comment on the futility of what you are suggesting.
If you hadn't noticed, the US is currently engaged in a trade war with China involving tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods. It does not appear to be shifting their stance.
They are far more likely to move on that than take any notice of what they view as interference in their domestic interests. And our leverage is a minute fraction of that available to the US.
Do we know it’s not shifting their stance?
I don’t share the view that how China treats its citizens is uniquely none of our business.
It’s quite clear to me they’re repressed and, as Hong Kong and Taiwan show, they’d far rather have personal freedom and see the West as their natural allies.
Taiwan and Hong Kong are two very different problems. Hong Kong is undisputed Chinese sovereign territory. The chances of their being told by the West how to treat its residents, and taking any notice, are zero. We gained them a two decade breathing space, and for a brief while it looked as though China itself might liberalise. that was sadly an illusion.
Taiwan's status is... complicated. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan–United_States_relations Though it is recognised as an independent nation by 17 UN members - not including us.
If Trump is re-elected, we will have to get used to a world where the dominant economy disclaims any interest in policing other countries, and the would be dominant economy is governed by values utterly inimical to individual liberty.
Surely he must be tempted to go sooner while Corbyn is still in post and the opposition is split. I can't see BP being much of a threat if he is advocating WTO Brexit.
The tories will lose most of their 13 Scottish seats and a few in the home counties.
Nigel's delight in Harry's Nazi attire appears undeniable:
'Here was Harry, here he was this young, brave, boisterous, all male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem. And then, a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan. He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years.'
How nasty of the MSM to use Farage's own words against him.
“Terrifying! Here was Harry, here he was this young, brave, boisterous, all male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem. And then, a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan. He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years......
.....Farage’s reference to “dressing up inappropriately” is an allusion to photographs of Harry at a 2005 party dressed in a Nazi uniform.
That Farage should say derogatory things about the late Queen Mother, someone widely regarded as a national treasure, says a lot about his political judgement. This won't be forgotten.
Maybe it wont but as nichomar says his audience will love it.
Surely he must be tempted to go sooner while Corbyn is still in post and the opposition is split. I can't see BP being much of a threat if he is advocating WTO Brexit.
The tories will lose most of their 13 Scottish seats and a few in the home counties.
Where do they get their new seats from?
Bolsover.
So that's one down. Assume maybe they can hold onto a few more Scottish seats if they are fortunate, then take away a number of LD seats in the south.
The idea BXP wont be a threat if Boris advocates certain options is for the birds. They might not be as significant a threat, which is why for party purposes it's the best bet, but a good many of the BXP vote are not likely to think about potential for counter productive action.
If MPs really cannot stop a No Deal Brexit, then great constitutional experts like Grieve have been outsmarted by Johnson & co. In fact, the date 23rd July was chosen deliberately to announce the new PM.
My instinct is that the Conservatives would lose further seats in London to Labour, and some surprising big swings in the Home Counties would lead it losing a number of safe seats to the LDs.
Meanwhile, only a handful of gains in the Midlands and the North would materialise.
So, i could see Boris on 250-260 seats and LoTO in rather short order.
I disagree , Johnson will get a massive majority against a split Corbyn , Swinson opposition. He needs to go for it whilst Corbyn is still in place.
What makes you so confident the percentage voteshares will remain static during the election campaign, and that they will translate into seat shares in a way that favours the Conservatives?
This isn’t 1983. Voting habits are far looser now, much more aligned to social identity and UNS is breaking at the seams.
I expect the reverse: for them to be regionally and demographically concentrated in a way that disfavours the Conservatives.
I am confident Johnson wins an election against Corbyn . Especially if there is a VONC in Sept and a GE before 311019.
Corbyn's only chance is if no deal is a disaster.
So it’s based on nothing more than a confident assertion.
Fair enough. I’m backing my judgement with money and laying a Tory majority.
It is perhaps significant that many natural supporters of the Big Two are of the opinion their own side will lose. A sign of how unpredictable it all is?
It might come down to which one of the big two loses least.
Without sounding like @HYUFD too much, the polls do show a window of opportunity around 31/10 where Boris could win a majority in the euphoria of us leaving the EU before the impacts become clear. How long that window of opportunity lasts I don't know but that's clearly the pivotal point so November 7th becomes likely. We leave with much pro-Government fanfare in the campaign and then vote while still high on the heady fumes of full sovereignty or freedom.
Boris may on the other hand realise the Opposition is weak, disparate and far from co-ordinated and in fact he can go on with his 270 loyalists and the tacit support of Corbyn and his loyalists through 31/10 and run the clock down. The next election isn't required until 2022 which gives time to clear the hump of economic dislocation and get some trade deals in place.
The Conservatives may suffer some short-term poll hits and the 2020 local elections may not be a lot of fun (however, if Siobhan Benita ousts Sadiq Khan aided and abetted by Conservative second preference votes and some Labour ones this would more than mask Conservative losses among the 840 or seats they are defending).
That still gives Boris plenty of time to work up the pre-election giveaway and go to the country in 2022 claiming Brexit as a success, embracing Global Britain on the back of a temporary debt-filled boom. Re-election in 2022 and then who knows?
Surely he must be tempted to go sooner while Corbyn is still in post and the opposition is split. I can't see BP being much of a threat if he is advocating WTO Brexit.
The tories will lose most of their 13 Scottish seats and a few in the home counties.
Where do they get their new seats from?
Bolsover.
So that's one down. Assume maybe they can hold onto a few more Scottish seats if they are fortunate, then take away a number of LD seats in the south.
The idea BXP wont be a threat if Boris advocates certain options is for the birds. They might not be as significant a threat, which is why for party purposes it's the best bet, but a good many of the BXP vote are not likely to think about potential for counter productive action.
Running one of the models on a hypothetical result where the Tory vote drops but Labour's drops faster, the Con from Lab gains include seats such as Alyn, Ashfield, Barrow, Bassetlaw, Bedford, Blackpool S, Birmingham Northfield, Bridgend, Bristol NW, Cardiff N, Clwyd S, Colne Valley, Croydon S, Dagenham, Darlington, Delyn...that's just the A-Ds. A fair few from Wales, then.
How nasty of the MSM to use Farage's own words against him.
“Terrifying! Here was Harry, here he was this young, brave, boisterous, all male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem. And then, a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan. He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years......
.....Farage’s reference to “dressing up inappropriately” is an allusion to photographs of Harry at a 2005 party dressed in a Nazi uniform.
The other big difference between Brown and Johnson is the speculation about an election is largely coming from speculation that it may be forced on him. It makes sense to prepare for an election if you might be forced into one.
The return to a more overt authoritarianism under Xi Jinping is having consequences throughout Asia. I suspect Kim Jong-Un has been reminded who butters his bread and we've seen a return to a more low-level tension with the US which suits China fine - it keeps Washington off balance while strengthening the covert Chinese hold on Pyongyang.
Hong Kong is another matter because the unspoken covenant which has applied across large parts of East Asia (as it did in its time in Europe too) is breaking down - namely, the community is told "Make money not trouble" - a kind of Guizot like "enrichessez vous" and this is fine up to a point (Singapore does it well) but the problem with middle class aspiration is that in time it leads to a recognition of the inefficiency of the authoritarian state and a desire to replace it with something better (Britain, America and France all went down this road).
Hong Kong has in abundance what the mainland lacks - a strong, well educated and politically aware middle class which doesn't want the authoritarian trappings of Marxism and wants an evolutionary political power but Beijing knows if it concedes here it will be the beginning of the long road toward the end of the Communist State.
I don't know what we can or should do in all honesty. We stripped BDTC passport holders from Hong Kong of their right of abode in the UK replacing them with BNO passports which allowed only holiday travel. The late Paddy Ashdown was angry about this and I can't help but wonder whether in the light of events this was a terrible mistake.
But only rich Hong Kong nationals would have benefited.
Mr. Indyref, I reserve the right to laugh if he wins.
Mr. P, I'd take Darth Vader over either main party leader. Yes, he does have a high staff turnover, but he's also highly effective and intelligent.
He got manipulated into being the right hand man for someone less powerful and even more evil for 20+ years. I'd rather have Palpatine as a role model - apart from the aforementioned blindspot on teddy bears he displayed far more political nous and subtlety.
Without sounding like @HYUFD too much, the polls do show a window of opportunity around 31/10 where Boris could win a majority in the euphoria of us leaving the EU before the impacts become clear. How long that window of opportunity lasts I don't know but that's clearly the pivotal point so November 7th becomes likely. We leave with much pro-Government fanfare in the campaign and then vote while still high on the heady fumes of full sovereignty or freedom.
Boris may on the other hand realise the Opposition is weak, disparate and far from co-ordinated and in fact he can go on with his 270 loyalists and the tacit support of Corbyn and his loyalists through 31/10 and run the clock down. The next election isn't required until 2022 which gives time to clear the hump of economic dislocation and get some trade deals in place.
The Conservatives may suffer some short-term poll hits and the 2020 local elections may not be a lot of fun (however, if Siobhan Benita ousts Sadiq Khan aided and abetted by Conservative second preference votes and some Labour ones this would more than mask Conservative losses among the 840 or seats they are defending).
That still gives Boris plenty of time to work up the pre-election giveaway and go to the country in 2022 claiming Brexit as a success, embracing Global Britain on the back of a temporary debt-filled boom. Re-election in 2022 and then who knows?
Nov 7th would be a gamble on there being no immediate problems. Whilst I tend to agree with Cycle and others that the damage is more likely to be insidious and take a bit of time to appear, if there were to be chaos in Dover from Nov 1st it would clearly knock straight into the election before the government could do much about it.
Mr. Glenn, that might not be hugely surprising. Putin's been there for two decades (eight years as president, a four year 'I'm just the PM' interval, then another eight years) and he needs to take a break again soon. Perhaps permanently.
The current world economic slowdown is hitting commodity prices, and therefore hurting Russia rather badly.
(There's a wonderful irony here. Putin thought that Trump would weaken the US to the benefit of Russia, which is true. What he didn't realise is that he had created the environment for a trade war, which would send commodity prices spiralling, and hurt Russia far more than either China or the US.)
Mr. Glenn, that might not be hugely surprising. Putin's been there for two decades (eight years as president, a four year 'I'm just the PM' interval, then another eight years) and he needs to take a break again soon. Perhaps permanently.
The current world economic slowdown is hitting commodity prices, and therefore hurting Russia rather badly.
(There's a wonderful irony here. Putin thought that Trump would weaken the US to the benefit of Russia, which is true. What he didn't realise is that he had created the environment for a trade war, which would send commodity prices spiralling, and hurt Russia far more than either China or the US.)
Without sounding like @HYUFD too much, the polls do show a window of opportunity around 31/10 where Boris could win a majority in the euphoria of us leaving the EU before the impacts become clear. How long that window of opportunity lasts I don't know but that's clearly the pivotal point so November 7th becomes likely. We leave with much pro-Government fanfare in the campaign and then vote while still high on the heady fumes of full sovereignty or freedom.
Boris may on the other hand realise the Opposition is weak, disparate and far from co-ordinated and in fact he can go on with his 270 loyalists and the tacit support of Corbyn and his loyalists through 31/10 and run the clock down. The next election isn't required until 2022 which gives time to clear the hump of economic dislocation and get some trade deals in place.
The Conservatives may suffer some short-term poll hits and the 2020 local elections may not be a lot of fun (however, if Siobhan Benita ousts Sadiq Khan aided and abetted by Conservative second preference votes and some Labour ones this would more than mask Conservative losses among the 840 or seats they are defending).
That still gives Boris plenty of time to work up the pre-election giveaway and go to the country in 2022 claiming Brexit as a success, embracing Global Britain on the back of a temporary debt-filled boom. Re-election in 2022 and then who knows?
If the government somehow imposes Brexit on the country and it is a chaotic mess, or even just unpopular in the short term, the government won't survive to 2022.
Comments
- Lt. Frank Drebbin, Police Squad.
Not only does Farage slag off the Sussexes but he also slags off the Queen Mum.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/12/nigel-farage-prince-harry-meghan-markle-overweight-queen-mother-cpac-brexit
I’m rather tired of how someone tries to bring the subject into play every time we try and talk about something else.
It’s extremely boring.
Think it is all shored up now and they are talking about a new station in future nearer town centre , planning to also demolish some 60's eyesore public buildings.
PS: You will pass through the metropolis of Kilwinning on way to Ayr, give me a wave.
"I want you to lay down your life, Perkins. We need a futile gesture at this stage. It will raise the whole tone of the war. Get up in a crate, Perkins, pop over to Bremen, take a shufti, don't come back. Goodbye, Perkins. God, I wish I was going too."
Ayr to Stranraer should be OK, it's the line between Ardlui and Crianlarich that's closed due to the weather causing the line to be washed away.
Best way to get to Fort W is on the sleeper (conveys 'day' passengers from Edinburgh and Glasgow if you aren't doing it from London - and don't be put off by the spurious guff about compulsory reservations for day passengers), then you can do the kettle to Mallaig.
You'd think he was trying to undermine his own Party with such remarks. Now which other Party, and which political Leader would benefit from that?
Another pub bore appears.
Normally you inject some pre-pubescent juvenile banter into your posts to liven up their utter banality, but even that’s missing here.
At any other time Corbyn could be portrayed as a "chicken" but in this specific instance that attack line doesn't really work.
https://twitter.com/George_Osborne/status/1160859052253089792
https://twitter.com/SpinningHugo/status/1160865530053648384
If we're outwith the EU's orbit with respect to trading relationships then our own trade terms with China can be targetted much more acutely by Beijing when it comes to FTA etc talks.
That means we might not be able to apply as much pressure on China over HK as we otherwise would within the EU's orbit. That's true for plenty of other nations too - but particularly troublesome with China as they hold a considerable size advantage over us.
I believe one of the most important acts the UK did to win the First World War was done in the first few hours of the conflict, when we cut Germany's international cables - several of which went through the UK's waters. This forced them to communicate more by radio, which we could then intercept.
Eventually that one act won us the war (see as an example the Zimmerman Telegram).
If you hadn't noticed, the US is currently engaged in a trade war with China involving tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods.
It does not appear to be shifting their stance.
They are far more likely to move on that than take any notice of what they view as interference in their domestic interests. And our leverage is a minute fraction of that available to the US.
https://twitter.com/PeterDWindsor/status/1160904696263041024
The UK has a long history of genuflecting to the Chinese in the hope we’ll get something out of it, something that the (Europhile) Chris Patten talks extensively about in his books.
fellow PB pedantfriend.I don’t share the view that how China treats its citizens is uniquely none of our business.
It’s quite clear to me they’re repressed and, as Hong Kong and Taiwan show, they’d far rather have personal freedom and see the West as their natural allies.
Edited extra bit: *ahem. I meant 'argue'.
I withdraw.
Edit: for girls, it's trickier but anyway let's move this on.
The people responsible for the Charles and Diana disaster were Charles and Diana.
One explanation I read (forget where) is that the car was set up specifically for Verstappen and it's a bugger for most others to try and drive. If Albon's a similar margin behind it won't look good for Red Bull.
Bit miffed I missed the boat though. A little bit earlier and some nice odds might've been had.
If he wants it and it's advantageous to him, the opposition won't let it happen. If he doesn't want it, he'll make sure it doesn't happen.
Lay 2019, lay November 2019.
I'm a quadroon so I'm obviously Team Harry/Meghan
Those outside the big teams have odds of about 751. Albon's now 41 or so.
But then, I got very lucky in 2016 so I can't complain too much.
Albon's odds of 41ish (that's Betfair Sportsbook) are significantly shorter than Gasly's 126. I don't think his odds will fall much.
I do think Red Bull might be underestimated, as they're developing tremendously well recently, but for Albon to finish 1 or 2 would be astounding, possibly even more so than Verstappen's inaugural victory in Spain.
Edited extra bit: ha. Shows what I know.
https://twitter.com/JuliaHB1/status/1160916944222117888?s=20
The return to a more overt authoritarianism under Xi Jinping is having consequences throughout Asia. I suspect Kim Jong-Un has been reminded who butters his bread and we've seen a return to a more low-level tension with the US which suits China fine - it keeps Washington off balance while strengthening the covert Chinese hold on Pyongyang.
Hong Kong is another matter because the unspoken covenant which has applied across large parts of East Asia (as it did in its time in Europe too) is breaking down - namely, the community is told "Make money not trouble" - a kind of Guizot like "enrichessez vous" and this is fine up to a point (Singapore does it well) but the problem with middle class aspiration is that in time it leads to a recognition of the inefficiency of the authoritarian state and a desire to replace it with something better (Britain, America and France all went down this road).
Hong Kong has in abundance what the mainland lacks - a strong, well educated and politically aware middle class which doesn't want the authoritarian trappings of Marxism and wants an evolutionary political power but Beijing knows if it concedes here it will be the beginning of the long road toward the end of the Communist State.
I don't know what we can or should do in all honesty. We stripped BDTC passport holders from Hong Kong of their right of abode in the UK replacing them with BNO passports which allowed only holiday travel. The late Paddy Ashdown was angry about this and I can't help but wonder whether in the light of events this was a terrible mistake.
Where do they get their new seats from?
“Terrifying! Here was Harry, here he was this young, brave, boisterous, all male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem. And then, a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan. He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years......
.....Farage’s reference to “dressing up inappropriately” is an allusion to photographs of Harry at a 2005 party dressed in a Nazi uniform.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/12/nigel-farage-prince-harry-meghan-markle-overweight-queen-mother-cpac-brexit
Hong Kong is undisputed Chinese sovereign territory. The chances of their being told by the West how to treat its residents, and taking any notice, are zero.
We gained them a two decade breathing space, and for a brief while it looked as though China itself might liberalise. that was sadly an illusion.
Taiwan's status is... complicated.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan–United_States_relations
Though it is recognised as an independent nation by 17 UN members - not including us.
As for the struggle with the US, China takes a long view:
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3011186/xi-jinping-calls-new-long-march-dramatic-sign-china-preparing
If Trump is re-elected, we will have to get used to a world where the dominant economy disclaims any interest in policing other countries, and the would be dominant economy is governed by values utterly inimical to individual liberty.
'Here was Harry, here he was this young, brave, boisterous, all male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem. And then, a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan. He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years.'
Mr. P, I'd take Darth Vader over either main party leader. Yes, he does have a high staff turnover, but he's also highly effective and intelligent.
The idea BXP wont be a threat if Boris advocates certain options is for the birds. They might not be as significant a threat, which is why for party purposes it's the best bet, but a good many of the BXP vote are not likely to think about potential for counter productive action.
(I do wish people would refer to him as Farage. It's quite triggering...
In fact, the date 23rd July was chosen deliberately to announce the new PM.
Here's mine on why No Deal won't happen -
To do it Johnson needs to win an election.
But if he wins an election he doesn't have to do it.
Without sounding like @HYUFD too much, the polls do show a window of opportunity around 31/10 where Boris could win a majority in the euphoria of us leaving the EU before the impacts become clear. How long that window of opportunity lasts I don't know but that's clearly the pivotal point so November 7th becomes likely. We leave with much pro-Government fanfare in the campaign and then vote while still high on the heady fumes of full sovereignty or freedom.
Boris may on the other hand realise the Opposition is weak, disparate and far from co-ordinated and in fact he can go on with his 270 loyalists and the tacit support of Corbyn and his loyalists through 31/10 and run the clock down. The next election isn't required until 2022 which gives time to clear the hump of economic dislocation and get some trade deals in place.
The Conservatives may suffer some short-term poll hits and the 2020 local elections may not be a lot of fun (however, if Siobhan Benita ousts Sadiq Khan aided and abetted by Conservative second preference votes and some Labour ones this would more than mask Conservative losses among the 840 or seats they are defending).
That still gives Boris plenty of time to work up the pre-election giveaway and go to the country in 2022 claiming Brexit as a success, embracing Global Britain on the back of a temporary debt-filled boom. Re-election in 2022 and then who knows?
That was never a factor with Brown.
The current world economic slowdown is hitting commodity prices, and therefore hurting Russia rather badly.
(There's a wonderful irony here. Putin thought that Trump would weaken the US to the benefit of Russia, which is true. What he didn't realise is that he had created the environment for a trade war, which would send commodity prices spiralling, and hurt Russia far more than either China or the US.)