[arista]

[arista]

[bots]

the other thing i want to know, because it makes no economic sense, is, why is Starmer chasing a trade deal with the USA when the first countries he ****ed up were Canada and Mexico, who both have trade deals

[user104658]

Originally Posted by bots

the other thing i want to know, because it makes no economic sense, is, why is Starmer chasing a trade deal with the USA when the first countries he ****ed up were Canada and Mexico, who both have trade deals

That's the issue the US is creating for itself at the moment - how can anyone make a viable trade deal with them when they know they'll tear them up on a whim? They're that pal you'd never lend a tenner to because you know they're a liability and their promises aren't worth the breath they used to make them.

[user104658]

I'm not particularly bothered by "freebies" that don't some from the taxpayer to be fair, it's not a particularly unusual thing in normal business and the cost is misleading (yes the tickets sold may cost Ł250+, but that doesn't mean giving them away free actually costs Ł250+, if that makes sense).

Paying for (and fuelling) unnecessary 2nd homes, unreasonably expensive daily expenses (Ł100 for lunch etc.) that come from govt. coffers is much more of a concern.

A theatre or venue (privately owned) choosing off their own back to give away tickets is their own business and a slippery slope to start scrutinising.

[bots]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

I'm not particularly bothered by "freebies" that don't some from the taxpayer to be fair, it's not a particularly unusual thing in normal business and the cost is misleading (yes the tickets sold may cost Ł250+, but that doesn't mean giving them away free actually costs Ł250+, if that makes sense).

Paying for (and fuelling) unnecessary 2nd homes, unreasonably expensive daily expenses (Ł100 for lunch etc.) that come from govt. coffers is much more of a concern.

A theatre or venue (privately owned) choosing off their own back to give away tickets is their own business and a slippery slope to start scrutinising.

any private business i worked for had strict limits on what could be accepted as a gift, and it was generally in the few quid area, ie a token gift rather than being anything substantial. I don't think it's unreasonable for MP's to have similar guidelines

[user104658]

Originally Posted by bots

any private business i worked for had strict limits on what could be accepted as a gift, and it was generally in the few quid area, ie a token gift rather than being anything substantial. I don't think it's unreasonable for MP's to have similar guidelines

They do have guidelines, I believe it's Ł300 limit but the more important thing is whether or not the gift generates a conflict of interests (could amount to a bribe) -- the reason matters more than the value, e.g. if the politician receiving the gift has influence over, say, a venue being shut down or decreasing fees or red tape. If they don't it's less ethically murky. Again I'm not saying it's ideal but for me it's at the lesser end of "MP scandal" - way less concerning than 2nd homes and utilities (which often come well into 5-figures, never mind a few hundred quid).

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

I'm not particularly bothered by "freebies" that don't some from the taxpayer to be fair, it's not a particularly unusual thing in normal business and the cost is misleading (yes the tickets sold may cost Ł250+, but that doesn't mean giving them away free actually costs Ł250+, if that makes sense).

Paying for (and fuelling) unnecessary 2nd homes, unreasonably expensive daily expenses (Ł100 for lunch etc.) that come from govt. coffers is much more of a concern.

A theatre or venue (privately owned) choosing off their own back to give away tickets is their own business and a slippery slope to start scrutinising.

I think in the current climate it is immoral, snatching money off the poor while indulging themselves, I agree with all the above though and I would add in the subsidised restaurant and bar in the commons all should be got rid of

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I think in the current climate it is immoral, snatching money off the poor while indulging themselves, I agree with all the above though and I would add in the subsidised restaurant and bar in the commons all should be got rid of

I agree it's definitely at the very least bad optics - I would much rather they keep their theatre trips and NOT strip down benefits for disabled people than the other way round, though.

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

I agree it's definitely at the very least bad optics - I would much rather they keep their theatre trips and NOT strip down benefits for disabled people than the other way round, though.

Wouldn't it be nice just for once to have politicians say yes I accept your freebie but I will donate the cost to a food bank or a homeless shelter....just once....

[Christmas Dynasnow]

I mean read the room Rachel

[bots]

By the time the next election is due, it's not inconceivable that we could be at war. If that happens, labour will be in power until it's over. We may need to buckle down for a long time

[user104658]

Originally Posted by bots

By the time the next election is due, it's not inconceivable that we could be at war. If that happens, labour will be in power until it's over. We may need to buckle down for a long time

I just don't see us being at "that kind of" war - i.e. we'd have to be under direct attack for them to legally prolong parliament ... it happened during WW2 but isn't "the norm" for wartime, the justification has to be that it's a danger to the population or not possible to hold fair elections (risk of attack). It's not just a "convenience" and there are several newer pieces of legislation that would make it extremely difficult for them to do it.

And to be frank... if we're under that sort of direct attack, i.e. ordinance hitting UK cities, the world is ****ed and none of it really matters. It would effectively mean that the entirety of Western Europe has fallen lol.