Correct or not

[j.sabourn]

#81 when in the army Allen and stationed in Germany assume you were a member of the BAOR. A lot of years ago now, can you remember the countries that had occupation troops also stationed there.? I was in Japan in 1953 and the only occupation troops I can remember were US troops and the occasional Ex Australian troops. A lot of the countries in Europe were during the last war supporters of Nazi Germany this included parts of France.
Cheers JS .

[happy daze john in oz]

The problem with any democratic gov is the way they work.
Many blame Thatcher, but why??

The country is run by the public service, the constant factor in the system, govs come and go.
The cabinet ministers call on advisors and consultants to try out what they consider to be the best for the country.
That at times can cause problems as the advice of the consultant may not be the best, but it is what the consultant considers to be correct.

So over time mistakes are made and depending on which side of the political fence you sit will determine your reaction.

The UK is still considered to be a serious nation when it comes to finance and trade, but there are so many white ants within attempting to bring the nation down.

[Mike R868356]

Brexit is on going, by no means are our dealings with the EU done where Brexit is concerned. Late summer 2023, the EU changed their rhetoric bringing to the table a more understanding and sympathetic approach. Dithering UK politicians facing defensive anglophobic EU negotiators, didn't have a chance in the 1st instance. David Davis was the Minister 2016-2018 for getting brexit done, he couldn't be bothered to attend meetings and regularly sent staff in his place. In 4 yrs to the closing of the office for Exiting the European Union, the department had 3 Ministers in charge, of the main negotiating team only 1 did more than 2yrs and 1 3yrs. The negoitiating was about consistency the UK showed none, hence the perceived mess we are in today. It was mentioned the UK has negoitiated some strong trade deals around the world that is true, Brexit was never going to be an overnight thing there's probably another 5 yrs before any real benefits are felt. We are taught to deal with the hard jobs first then the lesser ones, Brexit should have been done the other way round. We had many collaborations within the EU that could have been dealt with first and maintained the status quo, this didn't happen and many just off loaded the UK as partners. We were told the trucks through Dover would stop it hasn't, I live on the Humber Estuary, prior to Brexit it was known 3000 trucks a day passed through Immingham. From observations of the A180/M180 that is now three fold, the empty new vehicle parks post covid are now full again with the Car Transporter Vessels arriving daily. Prior to Covid the Humber had around 120 ship movements daily, today that figure is 40,000+ per year. As a Brexiteer I could go on and on, my last words weak inconsistent governance since Brexit is the issue behind any idea Brexit has failed. A return to the EU would be a costly venture for the UK, with a lesser membership probably similiar to that of the old Eastern Bloc countries. The EU certainly wouldn't welcome us back to the table as an equal partner.

[James Curry]

Many blame Thatcher, but why??
She made the North South divide even wider than it was before she took office.
She took the country to war, only because she knew if she won that war she would win a further term in office.
There is a Channel 4 programme on this week called The miners strike(Battle for Britain.
I watched it on catchup last night, The police behaved like storm troopers in this episode (Battle of Orgreave)
Trumped up charges and then arresting miners and charging them under the Riot Act, a charge that can carry a life sentence.

During the strike, 11,291 people were arrested, mostly for breach of the peace or obstructing roads whilst picketing, of whom 8,392 were charged and between 150 and 200 were imprisoned. At least 9,000 mineworkers were dismissed after being arrested whilst picketing even when no charges were brought.

137 miners were tried under the Riot Act ALL were acquitted
The much-reduced coal industry was privatised in December 1994, ultimately becoming UK Coal. In 1983, Britain had 175 working pits, all of which had closed by the end of 2015

Thatcher certainly set in motion the march for the breakup of the UK.

[vic mcclymont]

How can you blame Thatcher for the potential break up of th UK?
Blair was instigator, he negotiated with Clinton for the good Friday agreement, the only he could that agreement passed, was give further autonomy to Wales and Scotland.
As for the mines closing that was Scargills fault.
You make miners sound like angels, but they were involved in violence, like dropping lumps of concrete off of motorway bridges.
Vic

[Mo Docherty]

We leave eu but appease usa and israel

[Johnny Kieran]

The sooner Brexit is accepted as being a democratic choice by the people of the UK the sooner it'll work. If the fatcats get to a stage where they want it to work, it will. We were taken into the EU in a snide, undemocratic way, whether we liked it or not, simply because they knew we'd reject it in a vote.
Maybe we should get a vote on a few other things gov.uk get us into.

[happy daze john in oz]

True, an undemocratic entry but a very democratic exit.

That is the way any honest democratic gov should act, but often they do not.

Read an interesting bit at week end about the UK Labor leader.
He has obviously read an article by our Labor PM.

'When elected we will in the first five years build 1 million houses for public use.'

Fine concept but one that will not work.
Shortage of workers, even private construction now takes up to three time longer than before the pandemic, brought about by shortage of tradies and materials.
I doubt the situation in Uk is any different.

But I fraise a point often called out here in Oz, since when was the gov responsible for providing a house for you?
That is your responsibility, in the same manner as finding employment, not up to the gov.

[j.sabourn]

The only thing I see any government is competent of doing is giving the taxpayers dollars and giving away on their own say to other countries hard up , then having to budget by upping taxes shortly after giving some obtuse reason for the shortfall. Very easy to appear to be a big benefactor to others when giving others money away. JS

[James Curry]

How can you blame Thatcher for the potential break up of th UK?
Blair was instigator, he negotiated with Clinton for the good Friday agreement, the only he could that agreement passed, was give further autonomy to Wales and Scotland.
As for the mines closing that was Scargills fault.
You make miners sound like angels, but they were involved in violence, like dropping lumps of concrete off of motorway bridges.
Vic

Vic I never said the miners were saints. Blair, Thatcher even said she admired him.
The mines closing was Scargills fault? Scargills mistake was he never called a National Ballot.