Brexit, for once some facts.

[Nev]

I think he probably did say it, that would be typical of overstatement to emphasize a point, but it's meaningless.

I also think he probably said it, but he has now gone on record and so have officials from No 10 saying that he did not. LBC are reporting that three people actually heard him saying those words, if (and its a big if) they are prepared to come forward and make their claims in public. Then BJ may be in more trouble for denying he said the words than actually saying them in the first place.

I think if Covid had not happened then BJ would have got himself into trouble a lot sooner, he plays fast and lose with rules and regulations and does not engage brain before he opens his mouth a lot of the time.

I think it is too early to say if everything that is going on at the moment will affect him and the Tory part over the long term, D Cummings is said to have a lot of audio recordings. If he had a recording of BJ saying those comments about the thousands of dead piling up then I suspect Boris would be a goner. The fact that BJ and No 10 have denied the comments suggest there is no audio recording of it all.

 

[flecc]

THe EU have launched their legal action against Astra Zeneca for breach of contract.

AZ have said they will defend themselves in court, a rather unnecessary statement since they'd hardly have said we'll plead guilty!

I wonder who the European Court will find for.
.

 

[Woosh]

Some of you may remember that in my late 80s I was missed altogether from the list for first vaccinations and I had to chase to get one late, among the seventy year olds.

Since I'm now in the 13th week since I did a bit of covert spying via a health centre staff member and found I had been again missed off the second jab list so would never have been contacted.

Although I hadn't asked her for any action she in fact acted to get me an appointment among the "youngsters" on Friday afternoon the 30th April.

And an improvement. I'd recorded before that the surgery had installed their smartphone app in a bonkers way that blocked their website totally out of use. Since I'm not a smartphone junkie I'd been complaining and they have at last created a new website independently with all the usual contacting included.

Who knows, they might even start carrying out the usual NHS medical services again!
.

I think the NHS assumes that everyone uses a mobile phone. If you don't, then they can't send you bookings and reminders by text.
I had my second AZ jab last week. No adverse reaction.

 

[flecc]

I think the NHS assumes that everyone uses a mobile phone. If you don't, then they can't send you bookings and reminders by text.
I had my second AZ jab last week. No adverse reaction.

Although widely true, not in my case since all the Covid contacting around here has been by phone calls with messages left when out. This applied to the health centre and the local doctors practice offices according to all those I know.

Glad you got your second jab ok.
.

 

[oldgroaner]

I think the NHS assumes that everyone uses a mobile phone. If you don't, then they can't send you bookings and reminders by text.
I had my second AZ jab last week. No adverse reaction.

Good to hear it went well!

 

[Nev]

I think it is too early to say if everything that is going on at the moment will affect him and the Tory part over the long term,

It may have been a rouge poll but one taken over the weekend showed the Tory lead over labour for the up coming May elections reduced from a 10 point lead down to just 3. I wonder if finally people are starting to see BJ and his crowd in the cabinet for what they really are.

 

[oyster]

It may have been a rouge poll but one taken over the weekend showed the Tory lead over labour for the up coming May elections reduced from a 10 point lead down to just 3. I wonder if finally people are starting to see BJ and his crowd in the cabinet for what they really are.

Well, rouge is the traditional colour of the left!

Anyway, my fingers are crossed.

Just listening to a Welsh program - the primary message so far being the younger people (who are the reason for the program) are showing a depth of ignorance that is hard to believe. If they are deciding... Every other phrase is something like "I'm clueless about <anything you care to mention>". Very deep sigh.

 

[Danidl]

New figures from the UK Food and Drink Federation show that UK food exports to Ireland slumped by more than 70% in February after the UK's exit from the EU single market.
The Food and Drink Federation said that overall UK exports were down more than a fifth in February, driven by a fall in sales to the EU of 40.9% compared to February the same time last year.
The federation said that exports to most EU member states fell significantly, with Germany, Spain and Italy down by around 50% as well as that 70.6% drop to Ireland.

UK exports in February
It noted that exports of the UK's top 10 products all fell, except whisky.
The dairy and meat sectors were worst impacted, with sales of milk and cream to the EU down 96%, cheese exports were down nearly two thirds, and chicken and beef down by more than three quarters.
Meanwhile, imports to the UK fell by more than 10% in February, driven by a drop of 17% from the EU. At the same time, imports from the rest of the world increased by nearly 6%.
The Food and Drink Federation noted that imports fell from each of the UK's top six suppliers in February. These countries, all EU member states, supply around half of the UK's imported food and drink. Imports to the UK from Ireland were down over 31%.
Imports of the UK's top 10 products all fell in February this year - with the exception of chocolate.

Pork, chicken and beef were down more than 30% compared to February 2020. Fruit and vegetable imports on which the UK relies during winter, were down by 21% and 13% respectively.

UK imports in February
Dominic Goudie, Head of International Trade at FDF, said that while UK food and drink exports to the EU have improved from a 76% fall in January, they are still down nearly 41% in February 2021.
"Exports to our biggest market, Ireland, have also dropped more than two thirds," Mr Goudie said.
"UK businesses continue to struggle with inconsistent and incorrect demands at EU borders, and small businesses have been hardest hit due to the collapse of groupage distribution into the EU," he added.

More stories on

 

[oyster]

New figures from the UK Food and Drink Federation show that UK food exports to Ireland slumped by more than 70% in February after the UK's exit from the EU single market.
The Food and Drink Federation said that overall UK exports were down more than a fifth in February, driven by a fall in sales to the EU of 40.9% compared to February the same time last year.
The federation said that exports to most EU member states fell significantly, with Germany, Spain and Italy down by around 50% as well as that 70.6% drop to Ireland.

UK exports in February
It noted that exports of the UK's top 10 products all fell, except whisky.
The dairy and meat sectors were worst impacted, with sales of milk and cream to the EU down 96%, cheese exports were down nearly two thirds, and chicken and beef down by more than three quarters.
Meanwhile, imports to the UK fell by more than 10% in February, driven by a drop of 17% from the EU. At the same time, imports from the rest of the world increased by nearly 6%.
The Food and Drink Federation noted that imports fell from each of the UK's top six suppliers in February. These countries, all EU member states, supply around half of the UK's imported food and drink. Imports to the UK from Ireland were down over 31%.
Imports of the UK's top 10 products all fell in February this year - with the exception of chocolate.

Pork, chicken and beef were down more than 30% compared to February 2020. Fruit and vegetable imports on which the UK relies during winter, were down by 21% and 13% respectively.

UK imports in February
Dominic Goudie, Head of International Trade at FDF, said that while UK food and drink exports to the EU have improved from a 76% fall in January, they are still down nearly 41% in February 2021.
"Exports to our biggest market, Ireland, have also dropped more than two thirds," Mr Goudie said.
"UK businesses continue to struggle with inconsistent and incorrect demands at EU borders, and small businesses have been hardest hit due to the collapse of groupage distribution into the EU," he added.

More stories on

Excessively moving food around has always seemed bonkers. Things like potatoes being dumped locally while importing them from hundreds of miles away. But this sort of cataclysmic change, suddenly, and quite possibly permanently, is extremely damaging.

Of course, there might be some of that "amelioration" I previously mentioned But unlikely to return to the previous situation.

 

[Danidl]

Excessively moving food around has always seemed bonkers. Things like potatoes being dumped locally while importing them from hundreds of miles away. But this sort of cataclysmic change, suddenly, and quite possibly permanently, is extremely damaging.

Of course, there might be some of that "amelioration" I previously mentioned But unlikely to return to the previous situation.

It means that there is national shortage of Kit Kat bars!!!.

 

[oyster]

It means that there is national shortage of Kit Kat bars!!!.

Nestle product.

 

[oyster]

So the corruption issues roll on. Newcastle/Jamie Reuben/donor & mate. Still no ethics adviser. Still no ministerial interests document. Won't deny the bodies story. Nazanin still in gaol. FDA gets a judicial review re Priti Patel.

They manage to say “at all times [Johnson] has been focused on savings lives and livelihoods”. Leaving us to calculate how much livelihood saved per life lost.

 

[oldgroaner]

So the corruption issues roll on. Newcastle/Jamie Reuben/donor & mate. Still no ethics adviser. Still no ministerial interests document. Won't deny the bodies story. Nazanin still in gaol. FDA gets a judicial review re Priti Patel.

They manage to say “at all times [Johnson] has been focused on savings lives and livelihoods”. Leaving us to calculate how much livelihood saved per life lost.

Pity that the only livelihoods saved were those of the rich with offshore bank accounts!!

 

[oyster]

Now we know who paid for the number 10 (11) refurb.

Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row

 

[flecc]

Now we know who paid for the number 10 (11) refurb.

Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row

The thing about making charitable donations that gives David Brownlow the most satisfaction, he says, is “to make a difference to people’s lives”.

I suppose digging Boris out of the **** has made a difference to his life!
,

 

[oyster]

Pretty damned good timing in the run-up to some elections - such as Senedd, Scottish parliament, local and a collection of other posts. Will the shovels full of ordure have any impact?

Andrew RT Thomas seems to have done his very best to put everyone off. Looked/behaved like a toy robot on his television appearances.

Adding:

But Mr Johnson first has to appoint a new adviser on ministerial standards – a post that has been vacant since Sir Alex Allen resigned in November in protest at the PM's refusal to sack Home Secretary Priti Patel over bullying allegations.

The appointment was due to be announced last week but the preferred candidate is said to be 'wobbling' about whether to accept the post.

Just why would anyone willingly take the appointment?

 

[Nev]

This piece by Rafael Behr in the Guardian is worth a read. I thought this summed up BJ nicely.

"The prime minister approaches truth the way a toddler handles broccoli. He understands the idea that it contains some goodness, but it will touch his lips only if a higher authority compels it there."

In the court of King Boris, only one thing is certain: this will all end badly | Rafael Behr | The Guardian

 

[oyster]

This piece by Rafael Behr in the Guardian is worth a read. I thought this summed up BJ nicely.

"The prime minister approaches truth the way a toddler handles broccoli. He understands the idea that it contains some goodness, but it will touch his lips only if a higher authority compels it there."

In the court of King Boris, only one thing is certain: this will all end badly | Rafael Behr | The Guardian

Appears possible Johnson could be barred from HoC over failures re register of members interests.

(Not clear if he ever did undertake the meeting with the registrar to have the rules drummed into him.)

Mustique holiday still hanging over him.

Allegra Stratton in firing line.

Portsmouth-France cable issues (more other ministers but Johnson is, of course, responsible).

Newacstle Utd. / tory donor / Saudi questions.

"Let it rip."

Judicial review over upcoming elections:



Judicial review over PPE contracts has been allowed cost capping (against government wishes) so is going ahead.

And, I suspect, some who have supported Johnson so far will now be wondering about the future. What quid pro quo will he be in a position to deliver? Hence, maybe not in their interests to continue support.

 

[daveboy]

Interesting statement from an Italian MEP. ( only 3.38 mins)

BREXIT: Italian MEP attacks EU, offers apologies to Brexiteers and praises Britain - YouTube

 

[oldgroaner]

The Telegraph tame idiot came out with this corker
"
Sleaze allegations no longer matter in post-Brexit politics
The frenzy of "chatty rat" claims ignore the fact that close ties between business and Whitehall are essential for effective government


Why go elsewhere to be swindled?
Isn't that what government is for?

We should apply Citizens arrest to all Tory politicians and the right wing press, and let the courts sort them out