Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13704904)

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/20...funding-frozen

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13704951)

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?"

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13705002)

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.

Originally Posted by sphenisc (Post 13705303)

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.

Originally Posted by Pixel42 (Post 13705308)

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.

Originally Posted by Pixel42 (Post 13705308)

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.

Originally Posted by sphenisc (Post 13705303)

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.

Originally Posted by jimbob (Post 13705524)

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ohnson-to-quit

The comments are depressing even as they are turning on Johnson

Twitter thread here:

https://twitter.com/jamesjohnson252/...582863877?s=20



For example

Originally Posted by sphenisc (Post 13705303)

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.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13705691)

Nadine Dorries tweets
@NadineDorries
· 3h
The BBC wanted the fee to rise to over £180 by the end of the settlement.

Instead, it will remain fixed at £159 until 1 April 2024.

That’s more money in the pockets of pensioners; in the pockets of families who are struggling to make ends meet.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13705695)

Energy bills are going to go up by about 50% this year, average of £12.80 a week, but the headlines are 40p a week saving on your TV license.

Also Someone on average salary will pay £255 a year more National Insurance.

Originally Posted by zooterkin (Post 13704884)

Yet another Brexit Bonus.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13705002)

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.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13705261)

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!

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13705699)

In 2 years time I'll have saved enough to buy about 6 bottles of wine to put in my suitcase.

Originally Posted by Pixel42 (Post 13706060)

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13706123)

Magistrates in England and Wales will have greater sentencing powers to enable them to take on more cases, under plans to clear court backlogs.

The government plans to let magistrates sentence cases where the maximum sentence is a year, rather than the current maximum of six months.

It would allow magistrates to hear cases often held in Crown Court.
But criminal lawyers warn the plan may backfire, and defendants would still have the right to go before a jury.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said he hoped the move would reduce the pressure on Crown Courts and lead to quicker justice for victims.

The move would allow magistrates - who are volunteers with no legal experience - to sentence more serious cases, such as for fraud, theft and assault.
At present, crimes warranting a jail term of more than six months have to be sent to a Crown Court for sentencing.
The Ministry of Justice thinks that by doubling magistrates' sentencing powers to a year, it could stop about 500 cases going to Crown Court - giving judges 2,000 extra days to handle more serious crimes.

He said increasing magistrates' sentencing powers would mean that cases came to court quicker meaning "greater justice for victims" and "more criminals seeing justice quicker".
Mr Raab said the move would help provide additional capacity to drive down the backlog of cases, alongside measures such as the temporary Nightingale courts.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60033857

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13706159)

Could we make the Royal Family subscription based? I never use them

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13706205)

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab seriously told BBC Breakfast viewers “we’re still clearing up the mess left by the last Labour Government"?!

His party has been in power for more then a decade!!

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13706223)

Defence minister James Heappey says he doesn't have a clue about the plan to use the navy against cross channel migrants.
That's not really helping the Big Dog.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13706159)

Could we make the Royal Family subscription based? I never use them

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13706160)

Sajid Javid plans NHS revolution modelled on academy schools
Academy-style hospitals will be set up to improve patchy NHS leadership under a shake-up planned by Sajid Javid

There it is. Former banker Sajid Javid plans to hand control of whole chains of NHS hospitals to private companies that he coyly calls “outside sponsors”.

Originally Posted by P.J. Denyer (Post 13706307)

Weren't a number of, somewhat dodgy iirc, Academy Schools set up by a used car salesman?Heart transplant: Low milage, one careful owner. Well not that careful or it wouldn't be available..

Originally Posted by The Don (Post 13706274)

It's hardly Boris Johnson's fault that his colleagues haven't bothered to inform themselves about government policy.

Originally Posted by The Don (Post 13706311)

I there were a sting of them set up by the Vardy family in the North East of England. The Vardys are creationists if memory serves, and were encouraging the teaching of intelligent design in their schools. :mad:

Look for the same in the hospitals with some reiki and homoeopathy

Originally Posted by P.J. Denyer (Post 13706307)

Weren't a number of, somewhat dodgy iirc, Academy Schools set up by a used car salesman?Heart transplant: Low milage, one careful owner. Well not that careful or it wouldn't be available..