Start the Week Open Thread 17 December 2018

The Week of The Meaningless Vote ? Seems like a lot of BBC political programmes are shutting down for Christmas -despite brexit -so will be interesting to see the bias of those left .

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384 Responses to Start the Week Open Thread 17 December 2018

  1. AsISeeIt says:

    For about the umpteenth time on the BBC the notion of second EU referendum is discussed – this time on the Victoria Derbyshire show.

    I call bias because I don’t seem to recall much airtime given to the idea of the first referendum. From what I remember of years of pre-2016 BBC current affairs the issue was hardly mentioned and treated as a marginal point of view at best. Now suddenly a sequal vote is a hot topic. Bias.

       48 likes

  2. Up2snuff says:

    Some Cabinet Ministers are saying (on Brexit) that they do not know what the will of Parliament is. They think some sort of special Vote should be offered to sort out Parliament’s mind.

    Along with hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of Brits I think I can tell Parliament what ‘their will is’ on Brexit.

    They wish to frustrate Brexit, if at all possible, and Remain in the EU. If that fails, then they do not wish to leave with No Deal because (i) they may have to work harder for the UK, (ii) the Civil Service will definitely have to work much, much harder for the UK, (iii) the eventual economic benefits – after some possible disruption – will be substantial, and, (iv) the careers of lots of Remainers will be finished, their credibility completely shot.

       64 likes

    • Payne by name says:

      The will of parliament is irrelevant.

      It is the INSTRUCTION of the people that is paramount.

      Any cabinet minister struggling with this concept really shouldn’t be in politics as they are failing to grasp the core fundamental of democracy.

         6 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        Payne, exactly so and that is the problem I have with Jacob Rees-Mogg in that he has said that there are times when the MP has to do what they think is best and not what the majority of their constituents wish for.

        I profoundly disagree with that except perhaps, probably, in the extremely limited number of circumstances when it is a matter of national security or somesuch, and a Minister or MP has access to privileged information.

           0 likes

  3. Up2snuff says:

    Former MP and Government Minister, David ‘Two Brains’ Willetts has been caught out on his Tuition Fee & Student Loan scam.

    Having explained at the outset that it was not fair that poor low and mid-income people should be taxed for potential students to earn degrees and, eventually, much higher salaries (which would be very gently taxed under both Labour & Conservative governments) we now discover that what we suspected all along is absolutely correct.

    The basic rate taxpayer is still picking up the bill for University & Polytechnic degree education.

       36 likes

  4. G says:

    I sought information on the position of the Government as well as the Opposition on the UN Migration Compact via my Labour MP’s admin assistant (because that’s what we get). Her reply? –

    “Thank you for getting in touch again and sharing your views about the UN Global Compact for Migration.

    As you will be aware, this Compact is a non-legally binding framework which reaffirms the sovereign right of states to determine their own national migration policies. It was formally adopted by most UN states, including the United Kingdom, at an intergovernmental conference yesterday.

    The purpose of the Compact is to foster international co-operation so that safe, orderly and regular migration is facilitated. It also aims to reduce irregular migration and risks to migrants. Whilst I appreciate your concerns about the threats some migrants face when undertaking dangerous journeys, I do not believe that this Compact increases these and I support its principles.

    As you know, there is a current petition to the UK Government on this issue. The petition has received over 100,000 signatures and will therefore be considered for a debate in Parliament, which would give MPs the opportunity to discuss this important issue further.

    I will keep a close eye on any developments and continue to bear in mind your views.

    Yours sincerely,”

    Drain the Swamp MP.

       36 likes

    • theisland says:

      https://voiceofeurope.com/2018/12/they-lied-the-un-migration-pact-is-legally-binding-and-could-be-valid-for-all-countries/

      Merkel:
      “So then, during the UN General Assembly next week, the pact will once again be up for debate and a decision will be made on whether to accept it. At this time, a member state can demand a vote. When two-thirds of the represented countries agree then it is valid for all. That’s how majority decision-making works.”

         28 likes

    • imaynotalwaysloveyou says:

      Nobody’s ever asked my opinion about safe and orderly invasion, sorry ‘migration’. If they did I’d say I really couldn’t give a monkey’s about them – given that the vast majority are doing it for economic benefits for themselves, and the vast majority will be likely be a burden on us.

      I shouldn’t stress over it really, I think I’ll be long dead before I see the full-on dystopia that awaits us. We had a good innings as a functioning modern society, but sadly all abandoned by misplaced altruism and ‘feelings’ promoted by neo-marxist ideas and parasitised by multinationals out for a quick buck.

         25 likes

  5. cromwell says:

    i was flicking through news channels last night and on Jazerra of all places came across an article about Denmark fishing in our waters. I was suprised to hear 40 per cent of their fishing was caught in UK waters.The fishermen were really upset to think this may stop and were moaning about what would happen to them if we took back our waters. Shame about that now they know how our fishermen felt when they were sold down the river so to speak. i thought well that will be the deal Denmark will demand from us if we want to trade with them. Cant the goverment see we will be hamstrung by all the countries of the EU who will have their own demands if they do deals with us. It makes me so mad .

       52 likes

  6. StewGreen says:

    Guido has dug up a 2004 quote of Blair
    but someone had already tweeted it in January 2018

       47 likes

  7. Dystopian says:

    https://www.westmonster.com/morgan-im-warming-to-idea-of-no-deal-brexit/

    Piers Morgan has said something sensible. Not on the bbbc.

       27 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Dys, so it would appear are the British people. 181K, over halfway on its way to 182K and still ticking over nicely.

         27 likes

  8. StewGreen says:

    I bet you are always talking about the economist Mariana Mazzucato,
    ..that’s why the BBC picked her to be on Desert Island Discs
    ..oh in the prog she told us ” Denmark is playing key role in growing China’s green economy ”

    Her blog : Time to move away from
    Privatisation Deregulation Low Wages & Small Govt
    ..also “talking about de-risking and market-making in the clean and green energy space”

    \\ A State-Powered Green Revolution by Mariana Mazzucato
    Partially paywalled

       15 likes

    • Beltane says:

      The Danes have perfected power generation systems in China based on recycled bacon fat. Other markets in the middle east have proved less lucrative.

         23 likes

  9. Dystopian says:

    Coming soon to a country near you…

    Will the bbbc report this I wonder?

    https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2018/12/17/pakistan-sentences-two-christians-to-death-for-blasphemy/

       22 likes

  10. StewGreen says:

    Solihull murder news : man pleads guilty
    Most of us would mention the man’s nationality in a title
    Other media call him ” Afghan Muslim”and claim he has a wife and children in Afghanistan
    \\ Ms Oudeh married Janbaz Tarin, 21 in an Islamic ceremony but dumped him when she discovered he had a secret wife and children in the Middle East.//
    https://twitter.com/TopStories_News/status/1074665543792091137

       24 likes

    • JimS says:

      You mean they aren’t aspirational ‘Brummies’ then?

      Solihull, Urbs in Rure (the town in the country), (but which country?).

         12 likes

  11. PeterT says:

    Here’s a link to a story in the Press Gazette. No comment from me needed.

    https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/bbc-reporter-offered-copy-approval-to-telford-child-safeguarding-chairman-in-follow-up-to-sunday-mirror-grooming-scandal-scoop/

    Apologies if it’s been posted before.

    Peter

       21 likes

  12. Doobster78 says:

    On the Piers Morgan subject, i never used to watch Good Morning Britain , always found it a little trashy !!. However, since Piers has took over Monday – Wednesday, the show is superb. Forget Thursday and Friday when it reverts back to Ben Sheperd hosting, may as well stick a wet flannel in that seat for all the use he is.

    Flicked on BBC breakfast briefly to see the sports presenter Dan Walker and the weirdly overly butch Steph McGovern presenting today. She has a jaw line that Eddie the Eagle would be happy to use as a ski jump. That programme has gone so far down the pan, its un-recoverable now to be honest. Shame. Needs a “heavyweight” name now to try and bring it back from the brink IMO.

    One segment always worth a watch on GMB is around 6.40am when Kevin Maguire the arch remoaner and general all round miserable turd and Andrew Pearce the staunch Brexiteer lock horns. Today was the usual sparring but one thing that really struck me with Maguire and its a trait i see and hear in a lot of remoaners is that whatever they say, they truly believe they are 100% correct. No room for error / negotiation .. they are RIGHT. Piers and Pearch both advocated NO DEAL and clearly said they DONT KNOW what it will bring but remoaner Maguire was sure as eggs are eggs it spelt disaster. They really are a bunch of arrogant tits. He lectured us we should listen to the likes of mark carney, thank god Piers was there to remind him of Mr Carneys previous predictions which have a success rate that only a 3 year old would be proud of.

       59 likes

  13. G says:

    Petition averaging 1542 per hour since 0932.

       25 likes

  14. Up2snuff says:

    There has been much huffing and puffing in LA-La Land about women having more power in the movie industry and more opportunities to direct.

    Well, Susanne Bier has directed a movie. And – poor dear – has suffered sleepless nights over it. Bless. What was that someone said at the back about ‘Weaker sex’? Disgraceful! Please leave immediately.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46385618

    Scroll down through this puff piece for Bier’s movie by BBC Advertising (working hard today) and you will see a picture of the female Director at work.

    Surrounded by male assistants.

    Oh, dear!

       23 likes

  15. taffman says:

    “Theresa May sets January date for MPs’ Brexit vote”
    ‘Jerrs’ has not yet gone for ‘no confidence’ .
    Parliament is doing its best to Remain in the EU.
    The Real Peoples vote was to get us out of the EU . Parliament is not carrying out their mandate.

       38 likes

  16. StewGreen says:

    @TVThirdEyeB is tracking BBC TV news headlines, by reading the archive.org videos
    \\ BBCNEWS 1:06pm FRANCE MARKET ATTACK. Vigil held in Strasbourg to honour victims of gunman attack//
    (LA time)
    4:41am BREXIT DRUG STOCKPILING. Warning no-deal Brexit fears are causing stockpiling

    searches show :
    Far-right – used in negative headlines
    https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=“far%20right”%20%40TVThirdEyeB%20&src=typed_query&f=live
    – Muslim used in positive headlines
    https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=“https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=Muslim%20%40TVThirdEyeB%20&src=typed_query&f=live
    (copy and paste into your address bar)

       13 likes

  17. Anders Thomasson says:

    You have to think there was a crisis meeting in Salford this morning because the Sports Personality of the Year ticked no boxes at all.

       36 likes

    • Dysgwr_Cymraeg says:

      Oh yes, the degree of disappointment was palpable on the night.
      They have gone through the motions of interviewing Geraint trying to look interested.
      I think the rules were changed this year so that the bbc controlled the nominees down to six, who werent named until the programme began.
      The aim of course tomget one of their gender/colour favourites into first place. ( where does the black athlete fit into that list?)
      And once more the white straight male jumped up and ruined their entire plan.
      Nobody amongst the corrupt racist filth of the Bbc thought he stood a smowballs chance in hell.
      I haven’t been so pleased since they lined up Mohammed Farah to be a shoe-in the first time when Bradley ( non pc) wiggins wiped the floor with them all.
      #worrabunchofbbcwankaz.
      Oh I should also mention the poor production on the night. After making the presentation and speeches, they closed by having some club singer ( dunno name… ) trying to sing while the assembled ‘slebs on stage milled around wondering what to do with themselves.
      Painfully embarassing to watch

         32 likes

  18. StewGreen says:

    The Twitter search page pushes this at me at the top of the page…. #agenda
    “World news
    Meet Angela Ponce, the first openly transgender Miss Universe contestant
    83K people Tweeting about this”

       10 likes

  19. StewGreen says:

    No problem with people who kill and bomb being called terrorist
    .. but are people who are members of banned groups automatically labelled as terrorists ?
    Cos the Yorkshire Post use the label for those “crazy Nazi flag” people convicted of being in National Action last month.
    .. I don’t think the label is used for members of banned Islamist orgs

       25 likes

    • fakenewswatcher says:

      Stew: Take care, Amber Rudd will getcha!

      She’s a sort of Don Quixote, conducting a war against the mythical ‘far right’. Lots of that mindset about.

         24 likes

  20. fakenewswatcher says:

    184,707 people have woken up!

    Fast asleep: the ‘people’s vote’ supporters. What on earth do they hope to gain? How on earth will that take us forward or solve anything? Do they want the same result again? Why are they so eager to promote a civil war?
    Why doesn’t Blair fade away quietly into the sunset? Had enough of him to last a lifetime!

    Even if they win (unlikely), I’d demand a ‘people’s best of three’ vote!

    The abuse of the word ‘people’s’ began with all the Communist People’s Republics…

       30 likes

    • Richard Pinder says:

      Chairman Mao’s concept of a Peoples Vote for a Peoples Democratic Dictatorship:

      The people vote “For or Against” the Dictatorship. If those people who voted against the Dictatorship win, then the people have voted in favour of Democracy, therefore the people get another Peoples Vote. If the people keep voting for democracy, then this will be repeated over and over again infinitum, while the people remain under the rule of the Dictatorship.

      On the other hand, if on only one occasion, the people vote in favour of the Dictatorship, then the people have voted against Democracy and therefore do not get any more Peoples Vote’s.

      In both cases the rule of the European Union never ends.

         18 likes

      • fakenewswatcher says:

        We could pass around a collection box to buy Ms May a nicely-tailored boiler suit, with two little collar stars and a little Mao cap.
        Then there’s that little red book of thoughts.
        Her sayings could include:

        Strong and stable…
        I’m clear that….
        I’m just getting on with the job…
        In the national interest…

        In the very distant past, I read Mao’s book on guerilla warfare. Wonder if our Dear Leader would like my (slightly tattered) copy as a survival guide for ‘that place’? It’s jam-packed with gorillas, so she may need it…

           7 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      fnw, I think Tony Blair performs a very useful function in his current role as an Under-Remainer (shared with others). Joint-Chief Remainers Adonis, Cable, Campbell & Clegg have a (very) slight air of near reasonableness about them.

      Our former PM gives a lot of ordinary decent Remain voters who are also card-carrying Labour voters the heebie-jeebies and drives them to consider the implication of a Peoples Vote (certainly a stacked Remain Referendum) for democracy in the UK.

      They know about democracy from the lessons of 1997-2010. Gulf 2 led by the Dodgy Dossier. The Labour Party OAP questioner or objector thrown out of the Party Conference. The speeches by current and previous (female) Labour grandees that were similar to those heard in Nurembourg in the 1930s. The Labour voter described on-air as ‘a bigot’ by Gordon Brown merely for questioning Government immigration policy.

      So when ‘our Tone’ comes along, pushing to overturn Brexit, some previous voters who voted Remain may well run in the opposite direction.

      Keep it up, Mr Blair, keep it up. I’m counting on you to do your bit.

         16 likes

  21. StewGreen says:

    YP has big interview with BBC’s Chris Mason,
    their quote ‘We’ve got No agenda, just facts’
    … what you doing on the floor ?
    https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/chris-mason-interview-now-is-the-best-time-i-ve-ever-known-to-be-a-bbc-political-correspondent-1-9492469

       12 likes

  22. StewGreen says:

    Headlines are a problem cos the editor often chooses one which is “more powered” than the actual story
    The YP gave half a broadsheet to Tory MP Justine Greening.. then gives two different titles to the SAME story
    – Printed Edition
    ” We Can’t Wait ..we need a new Brexit Vote”

    Online title
    “Justine Greening: Time for honesty – I backed Theresa May in confidence vote, but her Brexit deal must be ditched next week”
    https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/justine-greening-time-for-honesty-i-backed-theresa-may-in-confidence-vote-but-her-brexit-deal-must-be-ditched-next-week-1-9494325

       11 likes

    • fakenewswatcher says:

      She doesn’t want ‘more delay’, then opts for a solution guaranteed to give us more delay.
      What has happened to rational thinking?

         19 likes

  23. Guest Who says:

    Rob does BBC logic….

    And a nice line in encompassing all.

       17 likes

    • lojolondon says:

      I thought a Monger was a disabled person – with Down’s Syndrome?? Is Rob Burley insulting disabled people??

         8 likes

      • Guest Who says:

        He is certainly insulting the intelligence of anyone capable of seeing what he has attempted in justification is a clunky as it is dumb.

        It seems he is running low on easy meat Remainers and plants, so has decided to go generic to avoid getting cornered.

           13 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        lojo, Winner of an award, well, sort of given one, at BBC SPotY yesterday, I gather. Billy is the name. According to the advance publicity. 😉

           7 likes

      • Fedup2 says:

        I thought the ‘m’ word be enough these days to get someone paid on the taxpayers ‘ dime ( nice Americanism that ) sacked or ‘fired’ . I thought it is treated As offensive as the ‘n’ word .

           8 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      RB has previously said he’s not interested in broadcasting Tommy Robinson
      So we ARE worried
      ..Now he asserts that broadcasting people who dissent and his audience disagree with is proof of impartiality
      .. contradiction

         10 likes

  24. Guest Who says:

    Rather surprised they did not add ‘if we at the bbc have anything to do with it’.

       11 likes

  25. john in cheshire says:

    I think this blogger deserves a wider audience:

    https://youtu.be/a5oMSnCMbCI

       11 likes

    • Demon says:

      I like the way that if a white man had called her “an outsider” like Nawaz did, they would be sacked and probably be receiving a midnight call from Plod.

         23 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Then ten minutes later in the show Racebaiter Maajid said
      “After the guy committed suicide they called me in, cos I am from a PAKISTANI background also”

      that’s after saying “I’m as British as anyone, I was born here, this is my country”
      That means he’ is saying he is more than equal
      He can be both British as you, yet more Pakistani than you through his parents/grandparents cultural connection
      but you are not allowed to claim you have a stronger British connection cos of your parents/grandparents cultural connection

         14 likes

      • BRISSLES says:

        I’m too old school for most people, but when anyone tells me they’re British, I don’t automatically consider anyone from ethnic minorities. Likewise I don’t think of a Scandinavian as anything other than blonde hair and blue eyes. Like I said, I’m old school.

           6 likes

  26. john in cheshire says:

    Also, the developing picture of UK secret service operative, Christopher Steele:

    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/12/christopher-steele-hillary-clinton-was-preparing-t/

       9 likes

    • fakenewswatcher says:

      Thanks, John. Interesting story. There has never been a US President who, from the very day he took office, was so heavily and relentlessly attacked by the losers. These attacks know no boundaries, and come in every shape imaginable. The attempted coup started on day one and continues, unabated.
      They come from people who have the monstrous cheek to call themselves ‘Democrats’, but wouldn’t know democracy if it landed on their heads with a loud, hollow thud…
      Surprising how little interest the UK media appear to have in Mr Steele, especially if we think about some of the other dark alleys the story leads down…
      Would have thought that by now our Pure as the Driven Snow Mr Sopel would be in hot pursuit of THAT story. But,no – he and his paymasters have their own agenda.
      And we all here know what that is.

      Footnote: Losers who won’t accept a democratic decision. Remind you of anyone more locally?

         24 likes

  27. Guest Who says:

    #CCBGB

    Seems there are folk who the bbc like to see in jail when they have done nothing to warrant it, and folk the bbc try like fury to excuse when they have.

    And outside the bbc bubble, most know it.

       33 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      VictoriaLive tweeted that vid 3 times in a row
      Do the pseudo libs believe in equality ? NO
      In their eyes
      : libs are super-human so get super-human rights
      : purple skins like Tommy are sub-human so get “sub-human rights”

         13 likes

  28. Guest Who says:

    Not the bbc, but the joys of OB ‘debates’ and thick, partial media chairs are well illustrated here.

       31 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      DavidTCDavies seems best MP in parliament
      .. always talks straight on climate alarmism.

         21 likes

    • Rich says:

      You can have a look if you like but the opinion that the Daily Fail have on this interview is completely opposite to the view it would have held about six months ago. As it seems with almost everything they produce related to British politics while following their new agenda, CCBGB.

      What an awful website that has become, and so quickly as well.

         28 likes

      • StewGreen says:

        @Rich that DailyMail spin is incredible

           13 likes

        • Rich says:

          I know Stew, I find myself shaking my head in amused disbelief more and more often.

             16 likes

          • Fedup2 says:

            Interesting that sky have taken down the clip but thankfully it will be forever be floating around the internet .

            Coupling this behaviour to that of Patton the day before shows the blind panic remainers are getting into . The beginning of 2019 should be vintage for those spectating on the bias of the mainstream media .

            I’ve got my popcorn ready with tissues for the next time mad drunk Soubry blubs again .

               1 likes

    • English Lass says:

      Imagine the kerfuffle if the aggression had been coming the other way. Weeks of complaints about abuse towards women. You’d never hear the end of it. All the name calling and aggression is going one way from remainers towards those who chose to leave. And it’s constant and seems to be growing.

         25 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      With Ms Turkey ranting I think I’d have a look at me phone . I bet the two girls had a friendly chat about nasty men after he’d walked off . Good move . Really wish more would say to their beeboid /sky/ other MSM – ‘ look – dun you a favour filling your air time but it’s a two way job ‘.

      According to Wiki turkey went to a private school then oxford then civil service Home Office / DWP before getting the safe Labour seat oop North – strange for a girl from Dartford . Nice to see rabid remainers losing it with the finger pointing /stabbing . Burley must be lining up a job in the BBC sooner or later .

      ( -and yes – I know her name is Turley but I think it’s more seasonal and appropriate to pronounce it with a ‘k’)

         21 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Turley is still jabbing her finger
      “They haven’t taken it down stop with your silly conspiracies”
      I check, Turley has posted a Sky tweet which itself bears the timestamp 4:40pm,
      BUT the Theodara tweet above has a timestamp of 4:23pm
      So I can see that 4:40pm tweet is a later re-upload by Skynews
      a commenter adds
      “The video was deleted, re-edited and posted again so that it showed more of the end of the exchange so as to put Davies in a worse light.
      TheaDickinson’s new tweet

         13 likes

  29. StewGreen says:

    ITV Yorkshire : local news item about school teach who started the Daily Mile exercise campaign
    She’s white and everyone of her class and filmed at the school is Indian subcontinent in ethnicity.
    .. not one white child.

    Ah it’s a national PR thing so your local TV station probably filmed one
    Here’s Birmingham … ah same ethnicity

       18 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      The photos of the Ireland and Suffolk schools are all white
      The Nottingham class is mixed

         11 likes

  30. Emmanuel Goldstein says:

    *Just seen your post Stew,that was quick. It must have appeared on look north (Newcastle/Sunderland area) slightly after it appeared at your location. I wonder if this ‘local news’ has appeared In other local tv bulletins.
    Great minds…..

    The shape of things to come.

    On itv, look north, a few minutes ago.
    Report of how the ‘daily mile’ is improving children’s health where young schoolchildren are running a mile each day.
    The only white British person was the teacher. Every child was wearing headscarves or other non indigenous clothes and all the rest were shades of brown.
    If this is a typical school there are no more white Brits.
    If this is the msm doing it’s usual ‘non biased, impartial’ news report then it should be called out for blatant left wing politicking.

    Also, why is Sky tv pushing so hard against the referendum decision to leave the eu. You would think that as the eu funds its rival the bbbc, Sky would want us out of the eu as the people voted.
    I suppose, like the daily mail has shown, it’s those at the very top who decide what we are told and how we must think.

       26 likes

  31. Beeb Brother says:

    The BBC have been in perpetual orgasm at the ‘racist abuse’ Raheem Sterling suffered, using it as a jumping off point to lecture us on racism for the billionth time. It turns out the fan called him a ‘Manc c*nt’ rather than a ‘black c*nt’ which means it is all total bullsh*t.

    And they have the nerve to raise the alarm about fake news! At least check the facts first before launching headlong into nonsense about a ‘return to the darkest days of racism.’ Alas it is agenda first and facts later if at all.

    Will they apologise now the facts are out? I wish they could get this worked up about the epidemic of black on black murder plaguing the capital. They really are as mad as a box of frogs: imagined words trumping hundreds of actual murders.

       37 likes

    • Heyho says:

      Maybe there is a new hate crime… Mancaphobia! Add it to the list of non-permissible joke subjects

         20 likes

  32. Up2snuff says:

    The Leave with No Deal petition is looking like it will top 200,000 by midnight today.

    🙂

    🙂

    🙂

    If you haven’t ‘voted’ yet: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/229963

       29 likes

  33. Terminal Moraine says:

    It’s easy to doubt the progressive credentials of Pakistan — especially in a week that two Christians, Qaisar and Amoon Ayub have received death sentences for posting offensive material against Islam on their website — but trust the BBC to be on hand providing their own special brand of balance. A chat with some actress promoted on the home page allows them to plug the idea that “Women dominate TV in Pakistan”.

    —“It’s fun to be in a field where you are ruling the roost, where women are feeling a lot more empowered… free… ready to call the shots…”

    I’m guessing that last comment doesn’t refer to new, gender equal firing squads but who knows? Anyway how reassuring to all who find Pakistan’s human rights record atrocious. But mostly of interest to BAME women who work in media, as well as to those who work in media and are BAME women. Which accounts for roughly 99% of the beeb’s remit these days.

       21 likes

  34. Dystopian says:

    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/12/16/petition-no-deal-brexit-overtakes-petition-peoples-vote/

    Petition is being reported on Breitbart.

    Any mention on the biased bbc?

       21 likes

    • G says:

      Dys.
      “Any mention on the biased bbc?”
      No more so than other important news which any responsible news broadcaster would inform its listeners/viewers of:
      A number of French senior military officers have publicly accused Macron of Treason over his continuing support of the UN Migration Compact. Oh! but hang on, our far left Marxist State Broadcaster wants to keep our final signing of the same Compact hush, hush……

      Where will this all end? Seems the political elite in Europe are making a concerted effort to ‘dump’ on their populations as quickly as is possible. Regrettably, the slow wheels of democracy turn very slowly – too slowly – considerable damage will be done before the democratic process catches up and/or the peoples wake up and take action.
      Petition: 193,360. That’s over 8,360 within the last 4.5 hours: about 1858 per hour! I calculated 1542 per hour early this morning so the numbers are growing per hour. Well done every body signing.

         32 likes

  35. Dover Sentry says:

    BBC Online News:

    “”Gender neutral Santa is coming to town””

    “”When we say ‘Santa’, you probably think of an old fat guy with a bushy beard – but what if they were a woman, or non-binary? Isn’t everyone capable of spreading Christmas cheer?””

    “”A recent study has claimed that 27.8% of people in the US and UK would prefer Santa to be either a woman or non-gendered. Of those, 10.6% say they want a female Santa, while 17.2% want the character to be gender neutral.””

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/2654ab3e-0699-48bd-994e-f5ffbb9b6ad3?intc_type=singletheme&intc_location=bbcthree&intc_campaign=bbcthree&intc_linkname=article_genderneutralsanta_contentcard17

    And the Three Kings should perhaps be Three Queens?

       22 likes

    • JimS says:

      “”A recent study has claimed that 27.8% of people in the US and UK would prefer Santa to be either a woman or non-gendered. Of those, 10.6% say they want a female Santa, while 17.2% want the character to be gender neutral.””

      But we are told that 52% of the population are idiots so why would we care about this?

         30 likes

    • Terminal Moraine says:

      The subhead: “The main thing is, we still get presents”

      It’s only a throwaway line, but so revealing of the progressive mindset. Everything substantial and of value is up for grabs — biology, culture, religion — just as long as we still get to zone out in front of ginormo TVs and endless consumption of disposable tat.

         6 likes

  36. StewGreen says:

    Wales’ Cardiff University is reportedly helping police track online “hate speech” with a tool called HateLab.
    According to the BBC, HateLab is “aimed at helping police pre-empt crimes on the streets, and will “look at ‘trigger’ events like terrorism and Brexit and how they may motivate hate crimes.”

    BBC putting ‘terrorism’ and ‘Brexit’ in the same sentence again. B@$*****.

       22 likes

    • JimS says:

      “As we saw following the 2016 vote, and to a more extreme extent following the 2017 terror attacks, surges in online hate speech coincided with significant increases in hate crimes offline.”
      It wants to speed up responses to “trigger” events, to dispel rumours and stop hate speech spreading.

      So when some bastards blow our people up, behead them or run them down with vans we get upset and express that fact on ‘social media’. Cardiff university isn’t concerned about the primary causes, i.e. bastards killing people, but wants to give ‘the authorities’ tools to blanket out the news and instead put out more of the usual, ‘nothing to do with…’ and fears that 60 million extreme right-wing Britons might avoid eye contact with head-scarfed women in the street.

         28 likes

    • vesnadog says:

      “BBC putting ‘terrorism’ and ‘Brexit’ in the same sentence again”

      The BBC will simply not realise that every time they group us leavers with terrorism they are storing up heaps of trouble for themselves in the near future. The public will never forget their devious, tactics and lies. Did we take any notice of Obama…no! So why do the BBC think joe public will fall for their daily lies and half truths!

         6 likes

  37. Dover Sentry says:

    Government response so far to the ongoing petition to go for a No Deal i.e. Brexit. (Scroll down on the link).

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/229963

    “”Neither Parliament nor the Government want a ‘no deal’ scenario. However, as a responsible Government, we will continue to prepare for all eventualities.””

    But the voters want a ‘no deal’. What Parliament and the Government want is of no consequence.

       31 likes

    • JimS says:

      Yes, isn’t it funny how we were given a binary choice, a ‘0’ or a ‘1’ if you like, yet now it has become strangely nuanced.

      We voted ‘1’ for ‘leave’ and they are offering us something between -0.5 and 0.1

      (The ‘elf of colour’ below ‘gets it’, IN or OUT!)

         13 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Actual stated government reply to the petition is

      Government responded
      This response was given on 14 December 2018

      The deal that we have reached with the EU is the right one for the United Kingdom. Leaving without a deal would risk uncertainty for the economy, for business and for citizens
      ..then blah blah
      and ends :
      Neither Parliament nor the Government want a ‘no deal’ scenario. However, as a responsible Government, we will continue to prepare for all eventualities..

         7 likes

    • Roland Deschain says:

      And the petition has now broken 200,000.

      Here I will admit to some heresy. I do not particularly want a no deal Brexit, as I don’t think you can suddenly remove agreements built up over 40 years without considerable disruption. Disruption that could have been mitigated significantly with proper planning I doubt has taken place.

      Nevertheless I think it is going to be necessary. If politicians on both sides of the Channel are too pig-headed to respect a democratic vote and act reasonably, then so be it. They cannot be allowed to sabotage the vote by deliberately obstructing and then blaming voters for problems caused by their obstruction. They seem blind to the consequences of undermining a public vote in this manner, perhaps thinking in their superior naivety that we don’t know what they’re up to. But I can’t say it is something I relish.

         22 likes

      • Rob in Cheshire says:

        Roland:

        I agree. A sensible free trade agreement would be a good idea. It was what David Davis was working on before Theresa May stabbed him in the back.

        At the moment, we will get nothing from the EU. They know our government is weak and full of appeasers, so why should they compromise? But as soon as we are out, they will be keen to make a deal with us, simply because our market is so huge for them. But until we really leave, the EU will not truly believe it will happen. Who can blame them?

           1 likes

  38. Guest Who says:

    The bbc has gone even more nuts.

       23 likes

    • Dystopian says:

      Naturally they’re all for it. According to the bus the national elf service was going to get more money!

      I’ll get mi coat!

         30 likes

  39. taffman says:

    Al Beeb – “Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a motion of no confidence in Theresa May, after she said MPs would not vote on her Brexit deal until the week of 14 January.”
    “The PM had delayed the vote from last week, admitting she was set to lose.”

    Mrs May , a word of advice…………………
    ‘Leave the EU without a deal in March 2019.’ and you will storm a majority in the Next General Election.
    Bingo!!! 200,000 Votes .

       35 likes

  40. Roland Deschain says:

    For those of you continuing to hunt the snark, I give you…

    Though the cracks are starting to show in his hitherto loyal band of sycophants, as a few are beginning to see the sport in using the comments to poke fun at Mr S.

       17 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Roland ,
      I’m surprised the White House bothers with press briefings at all. The hostile biased MSM are never going to be won over to support anything President Trump does .

      Even more so since he communicates directly with people using twitter .

         4 likes

  41. Rich says:

    Did none of you see the report from South Africa on tonight’s bBBC 10 ‘a crock’ Views?

    The item led with a gang of racist whites beating up a black runner who’s now too frightened to go into town on his own whilst the next subject, another black South African, told of how he watched on as his friend was indiscriminately targeted and beaten to death, again by a group of whites. No-one can condone that in any way but are these really the strongest examples that Fearghal Keane could identify as being representative of a continuing problem of racism in “the rainbow nation”?

    Why did he not lead with the white farmers wife telling of her husband being shot in the head by black burglars as she watched on? Highlighting the barbaric murder of an innocent farmer in his own home would surely have immediately raised more awareness of this problem and be more damningly representative of the dangerously inflammatory actions and rhetoric of the current South African regime than the assault of a man who thankfully lived, recovered fully, and was able to describe his ordeal.

    It seems the bBBC have set out their stall early. Blacks in South Africa, a country that celebrated it’s supposed new dawn 25 years ago and that is governed democratically by it’s indigenous black population, still suffer daily at the hands of their racist white oppressors. The main problem in South Africa is not car-jacking, drug abuse, rape, AIDS, murder, slavery, unemployment, debt, poverty, a failing economy or political corruption. No, according to the bBBC it’s racism and of course, blacks are the victims.

    When the bBBC are eventually forced to report more thoroughly on the ethnic cleansing of rural white South Africans and on the ever increasing threat of civil war, it’s easy to see even now the narrative they are going to follow and the side they are going to take.

       34 likes

  42. Beeb Brother says:

    I just flicked past the world service around 1am and they are talking about the ‘gender pay gap.’ How do they manage to only talk about the same things? Then talking about Russia ‘colluding’ with Trump to help him win the election on social media, another highly original story. I think the collusion between the left and the media is somewhat more of an issue but that is never mentioned.

    That NPC meme is so spot-on. Even non player characters in video games must have more fun that this; at least they are part of some cool adventure rather than just spouting off about an imaginary ‘wage gap’ or an election that finished over two years ago. Purnell has accepted a pay rise even though under his watch swathes of the BBC output are so abysmal. Ah, good old extortion: you get your money no matter how nasty or incompetent you are.

       15 likes

    • Beeb Brother says:

      Then something about sexual harassment at work! NPC jackpot.

      I am just going to listen to podcasts from now on as this is just abysmal. The BBC have to up their game or they will be eclipsed by the new media. It is only force of habit which keeps many with them as there are so many better options out there.

         9 likes

  43. Scroblene says:

    There used to be a tradition in this family, that every Christmas, we would buy a TV/Radio times.

    Back then, there would be the old favourites like ‘The Great Escape’, ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘The Sound of Music’ (the latter I’ve never seen to the end, as the single malt tends to disagree with wakefulness)!

    In recent years, we just haven’t bothered as they now bore the pants off everyone with their silly articles on crappy food, idiots who claim to be ‘comedians’ and their opinions, rubbishy items on slebs who are normally unheard of and, to make it all worse, also charging several quid for the privilege of their enormous benefaction.

    There’s enough dead tree press pulped already, and as the next stage of reducing the bbc pile of unread trash is to make bum-roll, that is much nicer than the garishly coloured pages of idiots squawking inanities to anyone stupid enough to read the stuff!

    I hope they’ll try and make a profit from telling everyone how people who are’nt Christians can justify taking the same time off and working the whole of December.

       23 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Scrob
      You’re not alone in the view of TV guides . Why bother ?

      Anyway the petition has now exceeded 200000
      Votes and with a bit of luck will head for 250k.
      Obviously in an undemocratic State like Britain such a petition won’t be noticed by the lefty MSM .

         18 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Scrobie, your post made me smile.

      During my very early childhood, we bought the Radio Times on a weekly basis. It was really just a listing magazine with very limited journalism and other interest. Then it was looked at critically and we gave up that weekly purchase and did not really miss it. (Daily papers were increasingly adding TV listings to their content.)

      For many years afterwards, once a year there was the ritual of buying the RT for the Christmas and New Year listings. 🙂

      You cannot buck the markets.

         15 likes

      • Guest Who says:

        All academic for us since the tvl was cancelled.

        We only used it to plan our viewing.

        On demand solves this wonderfully.

           7 likes

      • BRISSLES says:

        Thank you Scrobie, you’ve echoed the thoughts of many I’m sure.
        I’ve glanced through the TV & Satellite double issue, and despite the 100’s of channels available, I’m still struggling to find anything I’m eager to watch over Christmas. Its mostly repeats and ‘Christmas specials’ of tired and unfunny formats. As for the films, I can recite the script alongside the actors, because they’ve been repeated so often. Looks like I’ll be dusting off my collection of dvd musicals.

           6 likes

      • Banania says:

        The old Radio Times was a patron of the arts. Every edition was copiously illustrated with original woodcuts and drawings. There used to be exhibitions of Radio Times art in London.

           1 likes

  44. Dover Sentry says:

    BBC Online News:

    “”Brexit: Cabinet to consider ramping up no-deal plans””

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46600850

    Have they woken up and decided to smell the coffee?

       15 likes

    • Dysgwr_Cymraeg says:

      Can it be that Treason May has joined up the dots between her brain cells that after saying ref2 would be an affront to democracy, she now realises a no-brexit would be an even bigger affront?
      Nice to see Justine Greening on the brekkie show interview via video link, spelling out her choice of questions for ref2
      1 treasons deal
      2 remain
      3 A WTO exit.
      As both 1 and 2 consign us to lock in forever, it ensures 3 loses by two to one.
      Clever stuff ( not)

         11 likes

  45. Dystopian says:

    Petitions at over 204000 this morning

    Someone ought to tweet to Julia Hartley Brewer surely she will promote it.
    I am not on Twitter

       12 likes

  46. Guest Who says:

    Mostly #CCBGB plus some pathetic distraction attempts from the Graun contingent.

       28 likes

  47. Up2snuff says:

    When will the BBC join up the dots on unlimited immigration into the UK and homelessness/rough sleeping?

    Waste of time asking the BBC. I know the answer.

    Never.

    They broadcast the sad tale of an Australasian drug addict, rough sleeper/homeless person in the 45mins of Womens’ Hour yesterday. This morning, the BBC are attacking a Government Minister over rough sleeping & homlessness.

    Funny thing, they earlier had interviewed the current Shadow Housing Minister, John Healy, who was also a Housing Minister during the Labour Government of 1997-2010 and who didn’t like answering questions about housing provision and homelessness then. The BBC went easy on him and didn’t push him to answer questions on housing and homelessness and immigration now. I wonder why?

    You cannot buck the markets. (a.k.a. the Laws of Economics, you know BBC, the one about supply and demand.)

       19 likes

  48. Kaiser says:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-46597369

    two women tourists found dead with cuts to their necks

    what could that be all about?

       16 likes

    • Dystopian says:

      “Cuts to their necks”.
      Carefully chosen language to avoid the fact their throats were slit in a similar fashion to the cruelty of halal slaughter and the correlation between the two.

         13 likes

      • NameNotNumber says:

        Dystopian, wash your mouth out with soap and water, didn’t you know that more than 99% of Morocco’s population is adherent to the RELIGION OF PEACE?

           9 likes

    • LastChanceSaloon says:

      K – Those Norwegian razors are very sharp.

         7 likes

  49. Guest Who says:

    The bbc knows who delivers.

       20 likes