catsmate
No longer the 1
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2007
- Messages
- 34,780
Unlike Ireland....
In other good news for UKians, Amazon UK stops accepting UK Visa credit cards in Wednesday.
General UK politics
- Thread starter Darat
- Start date
-
- Tags
- uk issues uk politics
- Status
In other good news for UKians, Amazon UK stops accepting UK Visa credit cards in Wednesday.
Yet another Brexit Bonus.
Andy_Ross
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2010
- Messages
- 69,289
The BBC will have to make deep cuts to its programme budgets after the government said that the broadcaster’s funding would be frozen for the next two years, with the licence fee abolished completely in 2027.
The culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, is expected to confirm that the cost of an annual licence, required to watch live television and access iPlayer services, will remain at £159 until 2024 before rising slightly for the following three years.
She said this would be the end of the current licence fee funding model for the BBC, raising doubts about the long-term financial future and editorial independence of the public service broadcaster under a Conservative government.
The decision, confirmed by government sources, was briefed to the media as part of a range of measures designed to shore up public support for Boris Johnson after he has faced calls to resign as prime minister.
The BBC will have to negotiate with the government over an entirely new funding model when the final licence fee funding deal expires in 2027 – with potential options including a subscription service, part-privatisation, or direct government funding.
The Mail on Sunday quoted an ally of Dorries as saying: “There will be a lot of anguished noises about how it will hit popular programmes, but they can learn to cut waste like any other business. This will be the last BBC licence fee negotiation ever. Work will start next week on a mid-term review to replace the charter with a new funding formula.
“It’s over for the BBC as they know it.”
The source added that “the days of state-run TV are over” and praised the growth of US-run private sector companies such as Netflix and YouTube.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...ee-to-be-abolished-in-2027-and-funding-frozen
The culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, is expected to confirm that the cost of an annual licence, required to watch live television and access iPlayer services, will remain at £159 until 2024 before rising slightly for the following three years.
She said this would be the end of the current licence fee funding model for the BBC, raising doubts about the long-term financial future and editorial independence of the public service broadcaster under a Conservative government.
The decision, confirmed by government sources, was briefed to the media as part of a range of measures designed to shore up public support for Boris Johnson after he has faced calls to resign as prime minister.
The BBC will have to negotiate with the government over an entirely new funding model when the final licence fee funding deal expires in 2027 – with potential options including a subscription service, part-privatisation, or direct government funding.
The Mail on Sunday quoted an ally of Dorries as saying: “There will be a lot of anguished noises about how it will hit popular programmes, but they can learn to cut waste like any other business. This will be the last BBC licence fee negotiation ever. Work will start next week on a mid-term review to replace the charter with a new funding formula.
“It’s over for the BBC as they know it.”
The source added that “the days of state-run TV are over” and praised the growth of US-run private sector companies such as Netflix and YouTube.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...ee-to-be-abolished-in-2027-and-funding-frozen
They actually think it will prove popular, let alone create support for Johnson? What planet are they living on?
A planet where the primary fear is negative headlines in the Tory papers, most of whom have yet to start turning the scew on Johnson. After all, who cares what the plebs think about Auntie when there's a career to save.
They actually think it will prove popular, let alone create support for Johnson? What planet are they living on?
Andy_Ross
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2010
- Messages
- 69,289
They actually think it will prove popular, let alone create support for Johnson? What planet are they living on?
You may be surprised.
Lots of tweets in favour of it.
Here's a good one from Dan Wootton a GBNews presenter
Lots in agreement with him. Here is a selection of replies to just that one tweet.
"I don't watch or listen to any of these either, I shouldn't have to pay licence fee either, really grudge paying it"
"Don’t think anyone under the age of 50 uses any of them mate"
"Only interested in half a dozen of these services, don’t see why I should pay for all 25."
"Isn’t Britbox a subscription service to watch BBC repeats we have already paid for? "
"I agree (with regret) that the BBC ‘s time is up"
"I haven’t watched or listened to the bbc for years, but like most people are still having to pay up"
"I enjoy a lot of the BBC output, R3, R4 BBC1,2,4, local radio stations, etc. and I’d happily subscribe to hear/see them.
I’ve come to despise BBC News though, it is clearly biased against the current centre/right government and intent in smearing it whenever they can."
"They show so many repeats they could fit the content onto one or two and get rid of the crap."
"Scrap local radio. The staff very often IS the audience, and yet even here I can pick up nine BBC local stations."
"I have to agree, I do pay a lot of money to Sky as in my opinion it is the best product out there at the moment but the point is that is my decision to do so. I could cancel anytime."
"They don’t get it do they….I don’t watch so I don’t want to pay. It’s that simple."
"I don’t watch any of them. Haven’t for years. apart from Top Gear. So I need to pay £150 a year for one show?"
Last edited:
Andy_Ross
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2010
- Messages
- 69,289
David Miliband tweeted (about the BBC license announcement)
@DMiliband
·
5h
It’s the casual, brazen vandalism - no plan for an alternative, let’s just smash things up - that gets me. It’s the opposite of “conservative”. It just pulls the country apart for nothing except the thrills (and some profits).
@DMiliband
·
5h
It’s the casual, brazen vandalism - no plan for an alternative, let’s just smash things up - that gets me. It’s the opposite of “conservative”. It just pulls the country apart for nothing except the thrills (and some profits).
Andy_Ross
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2010
- Messages
- 69,289
There are also plans being talked about to give the military responsibility for stopping immigrants crossing the channel in boats. It will no longer be a Border Force responsibility.
It's all part of 'Operation Red Meat' a plan by Nadine Dorries to pacify the back benchers by throwing some 'red meat' proposals.
It's all part of 'Operation Red Meat' a plan by Nadine Dorries to pacify the back benchers by throwing some 'red meat' proposals.
Norman Alexander
Penultimate Amazing
Further down that report:
So... this whole kerfuffle will disappear in a few weeks' time??
Norman Alexander
Penultimate Amazing
All from the one source, "close to the government"?? Is his name Nigel F?
Norman Alexander
Penultimate Amazing
Surely not "target practice"?
Andy_Ross
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2010
- Messages
- 69,289
Channel migrants: Military set to take over English Channel operations
The armed forces are set to take charge of operations looking to limit migrant crossings in the English Channel within weeks, a government source has said.
This move could free up the Home Office to focus on the government's reforms to the asylum system, the source adds.
The news follows reports in the Times that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will give the Royal Navy authority over government vessels in the channel.
A government spokesperson said the public have "rightly had enough of the blatant disregard of our immigration laws by criminal people smugglers" and ministers were "bringing in necessary long-term changes".
They added: "The UK armed forces already work closely with Border Force in these operations, providing expertise and assets as part of our processes in the Channel. It is right that we pursue all options to prevent illegal crossings and protect life at sea."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60021252
There you go.
I didn't know it was the actual Home Office staff that were manning the Border Force boats. You would think the people working on reforms to the asylum system wouldn't actually be the ones chasing boats up and down the channel!
The armed forces are set to take charge of operations looking to limit migrant crossings in the English Channel within weeks, a government source has said.
This move could free up the Home Office to focus on the government's reforms to the asylum system, the source adds.
The news follows reports in the Times that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will give the Royal Navy authority over government vessels in the channel.
A government spokesperson said the public have "rightly had enough of the blatant disregard of our immigration laws by criminal people smugglers" and ministers were "bringing in necessary long-term changes".
They added: "The UK armed forces already work closely with Border Force in these operations, providing expertise and assets as part of our processes in the Channel. It is right that we pursue all options to prevent illegal crossings and protect life at sea."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60021252
There you go.
I didn't know it was the actual Home Office staff that were manning the Border Force boats. You would think the people working on reforms to the asylum system wouldn't actually be the ones chasing boats up and down the channel!
Last edited:
sphenisc
Philosopher
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2004
- Messages
- 6,235
I'm not understanding the need to connect the one of the Downing Street parties to Prince Phillip's funeral.
There's a lot of very good reasons for having a go at Boris regarding the illegality, hypocrisy, moral turpitude etc. associated with these events, but the fact the queen was burying her husband the next day doesn't seem to be one of them.
There's a lot of very good reasons for having a go at Boris regarding the illegality, hypocrisy, moral turpitude etc. associated with these events, but the fact the queen was burying her husband the next day doesn't seem to be one of them.
Pixel42
Schrödinger's cat
I think it's the contrast between the way that the Queen scrupulously kept to the rules for the funeral, whilst Johnson et al flagrantly ignored them, that is being noted.
And of course this will outrage a section of the Tory base who could care less about Johnson's other failings.
Exactly, and in so doing she also reminded the public of all the funerals, weddings and birthdays they missed while they were following the rules and called to mind those relatives who died alone because we followed the rules while the people who set the rules, flouted them but didn't even have the guts to own up to it.
Lukraak_Sisser
Philosopher
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2009
- Messages
- 6,052
But... Brexit is done!
Which is why the UK is now a country of milk and honey with gold paved streets and high international standing.
Surely that counts for something?
Which is why the UK is now a country of milk and honey with gold paved streets and high international standing.
Surely that counts for something?
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/grassroots-tories-want-boris-johnson-to-quit
The comments are depressing even as they are turning on Johnson
Twitter thread here:
https://twitter.com/jamesjohnson252/status/1482739738582863877?s=20
For example
The comments are depressing even as they are turning on Johnson
Twitter thread here:
https://twitter.com/jamesjohnson252/status/1482739738582863877?s=20
For example
- Status