And now for something completely different (British Politics)

[Mercutio]

Not only is it a non issue but it probably isn't true, sadly. But it's a great way of distracting you from how many cuts Osborne is quietly putting in to the welfare system.

[SoS]

Still funny.

[Concept]

Since when did you start believing the bollocks the Mail publishes? Next you'll be telling us that all the "migrants" are ISIS and we should drone strike them or that socialism causes cancer.

[Heather]

So you're saying the Mail is basically the UK incarnation of The Onion?

[Concept]

Close. I mean instead of direct satire it's deliberately controversial because controversy = sales, but they should be treated with about the same level of seriousness.

[Talon87]

The better analogy would be the National Enquirer. The Onion is a half-comedy half-letstalk satire piece, whereas the National Enquirer is a tabloid that posts absurd stories just to sell. In both cases, the team knows that what they're publishing isn't true ... but the intentions are very different.

[Mercutio]

Although if you want to know what Brits are worried about, read the Mail.

[Raves]

Alternatively, don't.

The Mail's as credible a news source as The Sun, and is as low that even I wouldn't use it as toilet paper. At least it ain't the Record though.

[Mercutio]

Sure, but many people read and are influenced by it and those that aren't often read a similar right leaning rag that plays in to exactly the same narrative.

[SoS]

Read (ha): the Express or the Telegraph.

[Mercutio]

The Telegraph is ok; biased, sure, but generally straight up about it and well informed.

[Concept]

So on his recent trip to Jamaica, Cameron has been challenged on the issue of reparations for Britain's historic role in the slave trade.

Yay or nay?

[Mercutio]

Morally, yes.

Practially, not even slightly. More likely would be debt relief of some kind or further capital investment.

[Concept]

So with regards to the whole tax credit Lords thing; has Cameron done this deliberately? I assume he's pro reform given it made the 2010 Tory manifesto despite the majority of Tory MPs opposing it, and he could have easily avoided this whole drama by making this a financial bill (which it should've been, really) to avoid the Lords even debating it. Is this whole furore just an exercise in getting Tories on board with Lords reform, Kush?

[Mercutio]

I don't think so. Personal view:

Feeling I'm getting is that everyone has fucked this up. The Conservatives should have realised that they would need to delay implementation and have set themselves up for the fall. The Lords stuff is an overreaction designed to head off any criticism but little will hapoen. They will go away, soften the blow, then put it back in and ram it through the Lords so fast their ermine coated sphincters will blow out.

Labour knows that tax credits have to be reformed but also knows that the Government has messed up on implementation. Should have headed off the LDs and said they would block it earlier. They have probably gotten away with it.


This is basically the recent ASB SCs furore, but actually important. Idea that will inevitably happen has been rushed through, some people loudly complained, government will make substantively minor changes that get it through and everyone will forget it happened.

[SoS]

So, we're bombing Syria. That's... a thing.

[Mercutio]

Terrific.

EDIT: The vote is tomorrow. I've not been paying attention but I assume we will vote to bomb them.

[Concept]

Labour's been given a free vote and there's only about a dozen likely Tory rebels so it'll pass. I mean, the Labour shadow cabinet alone plus the government would send it through, even ignoring the 100+ other Labour MPs who'll vote in favour.

[Connor]

There is talks of our military readying to have the first jets scrambled within hours of the vote going through. I get the distinct impression at this point it is something that will likely not be stopped.

[SoS]

Oh, thought the vote had already happened. Got that impression from a Guardian alert, strange. Then again I did read it first thing in the morning (morning being any time before 12, shut up).

Anybody here consider this a positive?

[Mercutio]

Not really. Knee jerk reaction to Paris. Will have no positive impact on the region.

[Connor]

Meh. It is unlikely to be a sustained response, and the primary problem in Syria which is leaving the place so divided (Assad) still isn't being addressed. Were this a preamble to removing Assad and beginning to restore some sort of autonomous government? Maybe a step in the right direction. This will just piss everyone off.

[Concept]

Hilary Benns speech from the debate is well worth watching though.

[Connor]

Aye, apparently there was a lot of solid debating from certain members. Might honestly have to browse through media sites and see if I can find some of the better ones, since I'm actually fairly interested for once.

[Mercutio]

His speech is great but largely irrelevant.