General UK politics

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Donating lots of money to political parties has always been a route to becoming ennobled. And it's not only the Tory party - they're all at it.

Best solution, in my opinion, would be to just scrap the House of Lords entirely. If you must have a revising 'upper chamber' then simply choose the members in the same way juries are chosen - by random selection from the entire population - and limit their term of office to five years. You could allow anyone rich enough to buy their way out of having to serve by paying some extravagant sum, say a million pounds to start with, to HMRC.
 
Britons overseas have no right to our help, says Foreign Office

British citizens arrested overseas through no fault of their own have no right to the government’s assistance or protection, even if they are tortured or held as diplomatic leverage against their country, the Foreign Office has said.

That stark assessment was delivered in a letter to lawyers for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who asked the department to lay out the government’s view of its obligations towards her.
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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...ght-to-our-help-says-foreign-office-99gscp5kt
 
ceptimus said:
Donating lots of money to political parties has always been a route to becoming ennobled. And it's not only the Tory party - they're all at it.

Best solution, in my opinion, would be to just scrap the House of Lords entirely. If you must have a revising 'upper chamber' then simply choose the members in the same way juries are chosen - by random selection from the entire population - and limit their term of office to five years. You could allow anyone rich enough to buy their way out of having to serve by paying some extravagant sum, say a million pounds to start with, to HMRC.
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I disagree with this. The House of Lords brings a much needed elderly and wise restraint on the shenanigans of the hoi polloi who will vote for anything if it includes the price of beer coming down. These are old heads who have seen it all before and it is good to have someone there to rein in the likes of the styled mobs. For example, the ERG and its madcap schemes.
 
Captain_Swoop said:
Britons overseas have no right to our help, says Foreign Office



https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...ght-to-our-help-says-foreign-office-99gscp5kt
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What a strange interpretation. From their website:
About us
We pursue our national interests and project the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.
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Before the reorganisation, when it was the FCO, not FCDO, their statement was:
Responsibilities
We are responsible for:
  • safeguarding the UK’s national security by countering terrorism and weapons proliferation, and working to reduce conflict
  • building the UK’s prosperity by increasing exports and investment, opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable global growth
  • supporting British nationals around the world through modern and efficient consular services
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So, they have somewhat de-emphasized support for British nationals, but surely they still are responsible.
 
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I agree with the original post, bring back British Rail, the privatised system keeps failing.
 
Darat said:
It gives one some hope that we aren’t all idiots.
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Oh, be assured that more than enough of them will forget this whole era quickly enough when we enter the run up to an election and the Tory propaganda machine gets into full swing.
 
Yes, and the Tories will be quick to swap leader if necessary. Maybe the chancellor! A chance to vote for a black PM!
 
And then, as with last year, they will pretend that the current shower were a different party altogether...
 
"Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice - stability and strong government with me, or chaos with Ed Miliband."

David Cameron, 4 May 2015
 
I suppose we're in the unique position of having elected someone because they portrayed themselves as a posh incompetent buffoon & being shocked to find that we got what it said on the can. Who'd have thought that would go wrong?
 
P.J. Denyer said:
I suppose we're in the unique position of having elected someone because they portrayed themselves as a posh incompetent buffoon & being shocked to find that we got what it said on the can. Who'd have thought that would go wrong?
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This morning he's not looking like such a bad choice in comparison.

Dave
 
Captain_Swoop said:
"Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice - stability and strong government with me, or chaos with Ed Miliband."

David Cameron, 4 May 2015
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You know why David Cameron won in 2015 though don't you ?

He offered a referendum.
Ed Miliband ruled out a referendum.

If both had offered the referendum, David Cameron would have lost.
 
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