Because if it was simply "British Railways" it would hark back to the "dark" days of the 1940's-1960's when the UK had a comprehensive rail network which serviced most of the country, in BREL had an engineering capacity which was the envy of the world and where fares were within the grasp of the working person. :rolleyes:

It's almost as if rail privatisation, especially in the way it was carried out, was a complete omnishambles. I note that rail companies are using the Covid pay-outs to enhance dividends rather than investing in their services or rewarding their employees.

If British Railways had received the levels of subsidy given to the privatised rail industry instead of being starved of investment for decades (especially just after WWII where the railways had been worked very hard for the national good) then IMO the UK's railways wouldn't be the ramshackle affair it is today.

Not quite renationalisation, but a step in the right direction.

Govt spokesperson says Great British Railways will only operate in England.

Personally, I would welcome Blair back.
I know, I know, Iraq, WMD etc.
But look at where we are.

You really couldn't make it up could you ?

....and the expansion of PFI

There are many reasons to dislike Tony Blair but he also oversaw a big increase in funding for the NHS, a significant reduction in the number of children in poverty, a check to the seemingly inexorable reduction in social and income mobility and as far as I know he didn't simply grant billions of pounds of contracts to mates.

Then again I would say that because I was an enthusiastic supporter of New Labour when I was a member of the party.

Out of the PMs I can recall in my lifetime the ones that I would have preferred as PM for the pandemic were surprisingly Brown and May, two people who should never have been PMs in ordinary times.

It's not Francois again is it?

Boris Johnson sends most of the Royal Navy around in a pointless willy-waving exercise.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57195317

Pathetic right wing populist propaganda.

Surely not. I always hoped his resemblence to an Action Man went as far as being smooth round the bend underneath his scale replica uniforms.

When did UK politicians parading around wearing uniforms emblazoned with their rank become a thing?
I'm sure we've seen this sort of thing before. It didn't end well.
Just waiting for Jacob Rees-Mogg in his "Witchfinder General" outfit now.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E16kXnmWEAI3WzC.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E10x2WcXMAAJ41U.jpg

It's Johnson & co playing at being a US President. And we know which one.

Maybe it's to help them remember who they are.

Boris likes to dress up. Here he is at an airfield, so he wears an appropriate uniform. Previously we've seen him in hospitals wearing nurses gear, at fishmarkets in fisherman's clothing (holding up a fish), at a construction site with a hardhat and matching vest, at a farm with a bull, and so forth and so on. Not even Kim Jong-Un gets around as much as BoJo! Kim only does it to prove that he's still alive, though.

Or because people kept saying "He's the PM?"

Unethical journalism and lying can’t be repeated, says unethical ex-journalist who repeatedly lies.

Yeah it seems that Laura Kuenssberg acting as No. 10 spokesperson instead of Political Editor isn't enough for Johnson and co. They won't be content until the BBC is just a propaganda arm of the Government.

The BBC's reputation has been "highly damaged" following an inquiry into the Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, Priti Patel has said.

The home secretary said Lord Dyson's probe into how Martin Bashir obtained the interview was a "really significant moment" for the BBC.

The home secretary said next year's mid-term review of the BBC's royal charter - focussing on the governance and regulation of the organisation - would be "a very significant and serious moment, at a time when the reputation of the BBC has been compromised".

The report will "go down as one of those key moments in the history of the BBC", she added.

"This is the Netflix generation," she told Marr. "How relevant is the BBC?"

The "fundamental pillars" of accountability, trust and confidence need to be addressed by the BBC, she said.

Asked about a proposal by former BBC chairman Lord Grade for a new editorial board, she said "all suggestions will have to be considered".
"This is the Netflix generation," she told Marr. "How relevant is the BBC?"

The "fundamental pillars" of accountability, trust and confidence need to be addressed by the BBC, she said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57217853

To which the appropriate response is, after you.

A new border scheme requiring visitors to apply for an electronic permit will make the UK safer, Home Secretary Priti Patel has said.

She also argued it will make it easier to count those coming to the UK.

Under the plan, all visitors without a visa or immigration status will have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before coming to the UK.

Passengers required to get a permit under the new system would include those travelling to the UK for a short stay or transiting - changing planes - in the country.

People wishing to work in the UK or stay in the country for a long period of time - for example over six months - would need to obtain a visa, rather than an ETA.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57217739

Oscar, Grammy and Nobel Prize-winners will be among those able to get visas to live and work in the UK more easily under point-based immigration reforms.

The Home Office has announced its decision to "fast track" the process for those winning coveted arts awards.

It is part of the government's bid to attract the "best and brightest" from around the world.

International stars who have won Bafta, Brit, Mobo, Tony or Golden Globe awards will also be eligible.

Previously the visa application process, known as the Global Talent route, meant artists and producers had to receive an endorsement from one of six bodies.

But from Wednesday, new post-Brexit rules allow people who hold a qualifying prize to make a simpler single visa application.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56991724

Priti Patel suggested ministers - including herself - breaking the rules isn’t important because they’re doing “difficult jobs, actually.”

And the Home Secretary, who was found to have broken the ministerial code over accusations of bullying, said the rulebook is currently being “reviewed”.

Asked, considering her own breach of the code - and the fact that Boris Johnson is under investigation over alleged breaches of the same rules - whether the code still matters, Ms Patel told the BBC’s Andrew Marr: “Well, look, the ministerial code is there for a reason - and there's work taking place at the moment in terms of reviewing that.”

She added: “I think at this stage this isn't about breaking codes and things of that nature, we're all just getting on in government, doing very difficult jobs actually, coming out of this pandemic.

“All ministers are focused on doing their job.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...aking-24166724

She also said in the same interview

"Herd immunity by exposure wasn't our official plan and I think people will be asking serious questions about why the BBC is bothering with this very inconvenient story"

What she's saying is, 'You can't touch me, because I control the police and I make the rules'.

Liz Truss on LBC suggesting that the BBC should be stripped of its role of selecting the Eurovision entry.

Because of Martin Bashir or because we came last with null points this year ?

The song wasn't horrible, though the performance wasn't great.

Seems that no-one likes us:

https://escxtra.com/2021/05/23/telev...urovision-202/

If they're competing then Greece and Cyprus are guaranteed 12 points from each other.

The UK has burned all its bridges.


edited to add.....

Of course in the middle of a pandemic which has already killed over 150,000 in the UK (and which will likely kill another 30,000 - 100,000 over the next winter), a disastrous Brexit which has caused the UK economy to shrink and the negotiation of a series of trade deals which seem to undermine the UK's recovery, complaining about the selection of a song for Eurovision is a great use of ministerial time. :mad:

Liz, if your mob weren't such a bunch of xenophobes, maybe the UK wouldn't come last. Even the German entry with the dancing middle finger did better.

Will someone suggest that the FA should be stripped of it's role of selecting the England football team?

Boris has announced there will be a Prime Ministerial Wedding!
It's going to be on the telly apparently.

Imagine how stupid you'd have to be to accept wedding vows from a pathological liar who claims to be broke, doesn't know how many children he has, and cheated on his ex-wife in the family home while she was being treated for cancer.

He needs the money - probably worth a good half a million with deals with the magazines and the like. Everything can be paid for by “family friends”.

Well, you might accept the deal if:

a) it gave you rapid access to the centre of power, and
b) you could have a life of luxury, even if (and especially if) you get ditched.

In the name of ****, why?

So the plebs can worship their master of course.
:rolleyes:

Seems like a genius ploy by the Tories to get people to revolt against the TV license so they can privatise the BBC.

And I guess he has enough stamps on his card to get this wedding free!

Interview on Radio 4 today with the co-chair of the Tory Party.
She was completely unable to answer the question "Is it OK for a member of the Conservatives to refer to Muslim women as bank robbers and pillar boxes?"

To be fair the question is ambiguous and should probably be presented in terms of set theory. Maybe they'll cover it on More or Less.

What is ambiguous?

It just needs a yes or no answer.

Maybe it's because the PM said it that was confusing her.

Boris told the investigation: “I do know that offence has been taken at things I’ve said, that people expect a person in my position to get things right, but in journalism you need to use language freely. I am obviously sorry for any offence taken."

So a non apology.

Aye. That phrasing virtually blames the offended person for being offended.

Cummings paints the entire government as incompetent, Jonson and his colleagues as unqualified and out of their depth. All true.

He paints himself and his data scientist colleagues as shining examples of sanity and professionalism who could have done it much much better. He says “it’s a disaster that I acted too late”.

I have no doubt most of his criticisms are true, but he comes across as ranty and has a chip on his shoulder. He is discrediting himself.