Brexit, for once some facts.

[oyster]

A real horror story:

The Cockroach – an extract from Ian McEwan’s Brexit-inspired novella

In the novelist’s satirical reworking of Kafka’s classic story, an insect wakes up to discover to its horror that it has turned into the prime minister…
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/22/the-cockroach-an-extract-from-ian-mcewans-brexit-inspired-novella

 

[daveboy]

When I moved to England, France had a doctor for every 700-800 inhabitants.
there are still plenty of old GPs working well into their late 70s.
My best friend is a GP, he's been trying to handover his surgery to a younger doctor for the last two years without success and could not even find a locum to cover holidays.
Every time I see him, I always ask if he has retired yet and the answer is still not.
France does not have as many non French GPs as UK non british GPs.

This might be correct (my brother has a place in France) but his next door neighbour is a Paramedic and as a Paramedic he is allowed to do far more of a GP's duties than in this country..If my brother has been ill he has always been able to get his treatment without having to see a GP.

 

[jonathan.agnew]

I am in France at the moment. Had an apéritif with a few neigbours yesterday and the subject veered to brexit. 'Do you guys think of leaving the EU too?' The consensus is that may have been the case at the time of President Sarkozy but not now, they want to have the same tax rates and social benefits so that people would not want to move because French pay more tax than Spaniards. France experiences the same shortage of GPs, dentists, hospital specialists like we have in the UK. Waiting at A&E is now about 2 hours, appointment with an eye specialist a year.

Oddly I never have to wait for a gp appointment in the uk. And, in my experience, they're clinically highly competent. My beef (and I used to do some work in the nhs) is with more specialised services. Often clinicians do significant amounts of private work and it seems - a bit like railways - that it sometimes become fragmented self serving services without a proper clinical ethos or patient care

 

[flecc]

France experiences the same shortage of GPs, dentists, hospital specialists like we have in the UK. Waiting at A&E is now about 2 hours, appointment with an eye specialist a year.

Not as bad as here as Oyster observes, but certainly heading the wrong way. Maybe they shouldn't have created Medecins sans Frontieres and exported so much young talent?
.

 

[jonathan.agnew]

Not as bad as here as Oyster observes, but certainly heading the wrong way. Maybe they shouldn't have created Medecins sans Frontieres and exported so much young talent?
.

Now now, that's deliberately controversial - that would involve prioritising the needs of some seriously affluent petit bourgeoisie over bombed homeless Syrian mothers and children. Beside, most young medics go to the third world to gain experience in trauma medicine, not necessarilly for altruistic reasons

 

[flecc]

Now now, that's deliberately controversial - that would involve prioritising the needs of some seriously affluent petit bourgeoisie over bombed homeless Syrian mothers and children. Beside, most young medics go to the third world to gain experience in trauma medicine, not necessarilly for altruistic reasons

Charity begins at home.

And our lot of new young doctors prefer to get their trauma experience in Australia after we've trained them at great expense, and then never come back.
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[Wicky]

A real horror story:

The Cockroach – an extract from Ian McEwan’s Brexit-inspired novella

In the novelist’s satirical reworking of Kafka’s classic story, an insect wakes up to discover to its horror that it has turned into the prime minister…
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/22/the-cockroach-an-extract-from-ian-mcewans-brexit-inspired-novella

Splendid writing > https://www.theguardian.com/books/audio/2019/sep/22/bill-nighy-reads-an-extract-from-ian-mcewan-new-novella-the-cockroach

 

[oyster]

Oddly I never have to wait for a gp appointment in the uk. And, in my experience, they're clinically highly competent. My beef (and I used to do some work in the nhs) is with more specialised services. Often clinicians do significant amounts of private work and it seems - a bit like railways - that it sometimes become fragmented self serving services without a proper clinical ethos or patient care

My previous surgery had two ways of getting an appointment - either something like two or more weeks ahead, a limited number of appointments available, or on the day, ring at 08:00 (or whatever time it was). Of course, if you know far enough ahead, that might work, but even then the limit on appointments often meant there were none available. And, for the on the day appointments, the phone was red hot for some time before and after the deadline. Often you would be told there are none and try agaon at 14:00. With similar results.

 

[jonathan.agnew]

Charity begins at home.

And our lot of new young doctors prefer to get their trauma experience in Australia after we've trained them at great expense, and then never come back.
.

Australia is a different matter, we only have ourselves to blame for presiding over a rightwing dystopia as we do. If I were in my late twenties I'd be out of here. I'm not sure its charity that should be beginning at home. I see a quite indulged narcissistic electorate making unenlightened selfish decisions because of that.

 

[oyster]

By their deeds, shall ye know them:

Boris Johnson urged to justify 'awarding public funds to close friend'
PM allegedly gave money and access to trade missions to US entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri while mayor
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/22/boris-johnson-urged-to-justify-awarding-public-funds-to-close-friend-jennifer-arcuri

 

[jonathan.agnew]

My previous surgery had two ways of getting an appointment - either something like two or more weeks ahead, a limited number of appointments available, or on the day, ring at 08:00 (or whatever time it was). Of course, if you know far enough ahead, that might work, but even then the limit on appointments often meant there were none available. And, for the on the day appointments, the phone was red hot for some time before and after the deadline. Often you would be told there are none and try agaon at 14:00. With similar results.

It's a post code lottery I think. I'm on the left of the political spectrum but live in an affluent very tory seat that perhaps unsurprisingly seem to get quite a lot of central government money.

 

[flecc]

I'm not sure its charity that should be beginning at home. I see a quite indulged narcissistic electorate making unenlightened selfish decisions because of that.

I disagree, there has long been a serious shortfall in our medical services here in Britain, so we should be attending to that first, before attending to other's needs. That's especially true when those overseas needs are self created, and why I shed no tears for Syrians.
.

 

[Danidl]

Well Fingers , was the Rugby to your satisfaction today?.

 

[Fingers]

Well Fingers , was the Rugby to your satisfaction today?.

Ireland looked good but Scotland looked bad.

Ireland seem to be back though

 

[jonathan.agnew]

I disagree, there has long been a serious shortfall in our medical services here in Britain, so we should be attending to that first, before attending to other's needs. That's especially true when those overseas needs are self created, and why I shed no tears for Syrians.
.

Are you seriously suggesting the uk - and blair - was not key in destabilising the middle east, destroying functional states and creating the refugee crisis? It's interesting that you dont shed tears for the Syrians. What were doing - having an increasingly fascist government that exploit sectarian difference to remain in charge - mirrors what Assad did and does. One can learn a lot from engaging and being open towards others

 

[flecc]

Are you seriously suggesting the uk - and blair - was not key in destabilising the middle east, destroying functional states and creating the refugee crisis?

Not at all, Blair didn't create the Syrian situation, our western invention of a non existent Arab Spring created that, stirring unnecessary trouble.

It's interesting that you dont shed tears for the Syrians. What were doing - having an increasingly fascist government that exploit sectarian difference to remain in charge - mirrors what Assad did and does.

It didn't matter that a minority Shia group remained in charge, Syria was one of the most stable countries in the Middle East. The majority Sunnis ran many successful businesses, their young studied in Western universities and all Syrians had freedom of travel and emigration.

All they had to do was thank their lucky stars, compared with many surrounding countries. But like fools they took a cue from the false Arab Spring talk and thinking the West would assist as in Libya, started a revolutionary coup attempt.

Revolutions that don't overthrow in first few days always fail, and they should have realised that and stopped it immediately. It was our belated Western "help" that prompted Bashir Assad to extreme defensive action, also prompting him to call upon Russian help.

Look at the background, we in the West created the entire Syrian tragedy, but the stubbornness of the Sunni Syrians took it its appalling conclusion, all in the name of religious stupidity.
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[oyster]

Immigrants!

English people living in Wales tilted it towards Brexit, research finds
Areas of Wales with big English communities saw larger leave vote in 2016, according to study
The question of why Wales voted to leave the European Union can in large part be answered by the number of English retired people who have moved across the border, new research has found.

Despite being one of the biggest beneficiaries of EU funding, Wales voted leave by a majority of 52% to 48% in the 2016 referendum – a result that took some analysts by surprise.

However, work by Danny Dorling, professor of geography at Oxford, found that the result could in part be attributed to the influence of English voters.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/sep/22/english-people-wales-brexit-research

As a migrant to Wales, I missed the referendum by days and voted in England. (So, "not my fault"!)

 

[Woosh]

Marr asked JC this morning:

Marr: "Is the UK better inside the EU or outside the EU?"

JC: "outside the EU"

he seems to be at odd with most of Labour's membership and MPs. It's lethal for Labour if they can't go into the next GE without clarity on brexit.

 

[50Hertz]

Marr asked JC this morning:

Marr: "Is the UK better inside the EU or outside the EU?"

JC: "outside the EU"

he seems to be at odd with most of Labour's membership and MPs. It's lethal for Labour if they can't go into the next GE without clarity on brexit.

Corbyn has a communist plan and agenda for the U.K. in his head. He can’t reveal it because the plan would be a vote loser. Instead he’s trying to be all things to all people which makes him appear indecisive, untrustworthy and a massive twat, which is probably close to the mark.

The LibDems seem to be the only group who are clearly stating what they are about. I think their approach will benefit them in the polls.

 

[oyster]

Corbyn has a communist plan and agenda for the U.K. in his head. He can’t reveal it because the plan would be a vote loser. Instead he’s trying to be all things to all people which makes him appear indecisive, untrustworthy and a massive twat, which is probably close to the mark.

The LibDems seem to be the only group who are clearly stating what they are about. I think their approach will benefit them in the polls.

I agree - I end up with Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru seemingly way behind tory and Labour, even if they operate a pact. Much as I wish otherwise, I suspect that neither stand a chance. But I would very much wish Stephen Crabb to lose his seat because he supports brexit (and is a tory).

If I knew the tories were definitely going to win, then LibDem or PC would be my choice. But much harder to consider a tory win and Labour only just losing.