 | Forum
Reply | The British Social Credit System?
at 13:51 24 Aug 2025
Some of this can be actioned quite easily. We already have IT systems to tag offenders to enforce curfews and conditions of residence etc. Our mobile phones can pinpoint our exact locations on apps like Google maps which already contain details of pubs and restaurants etc so it’ll be a case of developing an interface that’ll overlay the tag information on to a map, create a means of alerting a monitoring centre and bingo. I’m sure there’ll be a few glitches to iron out, but it something that won’t be beyond the boffins. |
| Forum
Reply | Swansea has its first Reform councillor
at 22:58 23 Aug 2025
The U.K. national debt as a proportion of GDP was actually lower under Blair /Brown than it was under previous John Major regime and it remained that way until 2008/09 when we had the financial crash arising from the US subprime mortgage banking collapse.
Public sector net debt initially declined in the early Blair Brown years, but then it increased steadily and had risen by £180bn to £530bn by 2007/08 (last financial year before banking collapse) BUT as a percentage of our GDP the debt was lower than it was in 1997 because our economy had grown significantly and some would argue it was at a manageable level. In terms of borrowing and GDP, it all went wrong after the financial collapse when Brown had to borrow heavily to “save the banks.”
From 2010 onwards, debt as a proportion of GDP has steadily increased from 70.9% in 2010/11 to 95.6% in 2023/24.
The”National Debt” was £902bn (2010/11) and it increased steadily over the following 10 years to £1.82tn in 2019/20, by 2023/24 it was up to £2.69tn. Covid was a major factor for the Conservatives as was the banking collapse for Labour.
In terms of immigration, Major signed the Maastricht Treaty which opened the door to “Freedom of Movement” - Blair inherited this. While he (Blair) would not have been able to stop large scale immigration, he could have delayed it by introducing transitionary restrictions on movement in to the country. I think most agree Blair got that wrong. In terms of immigration and specifically the numbers, between 1997 and 2009 approximately 6,700,000 immigrants arrived at an average rate approximately 510,000 per year, between 2010 and 2023 approximately 10,600,000 immigrants moved to the U.K. which equates to an average of almost 760,000 per year.
Since 1997 the U.K. has seen total immigration of around 17,300,000 people. The net increase in population is 10,910,000. Under Labour, the population increased by almost 4,500,000 and averaged an increase of 342,000 per year. Under the Conservatives the population increased by almost 6,500,000 at an average of almost 500,000 per year.
In terms of the stats they are difficult to collate and apportion especially when a GE takes place mid year, but applying a consistent approach for fairness we can work out ball park figures.
I’d also say public services are a lot worse post 2010 than they were in the Blair years.
The cost of living crisis is I’d say more an issue of the Conservatives than Labour, but Covid and the Ukraine wars are major factors. I don’t think either party has got to grip with the fact we have been and are continuing to be ripped off - particularly by utility providers.
The bottom line is I believe most of our governments have come up short and there’s been a lot of gaslighting particularly around immigration.
Edit - typos. [Post edited 24 Aug 0:40]
|
| Forum
Reply | Ospreys to move out of the Swansea.com?
at 08:24 22 Aug 2025
I don’t blame the Ospreys and Scarlets fighting their corner, but the whole thing is just going to see millions sucked out of the game and in to the pockets of lawyers. |
| Forum
Reply | Swansea City Third Kit ...
at 21:34 21 Aug 2025
Looks almost white to me, but then again that might be on account of the screen settings on my device.
Need to see one in the flesh, but if it is an off white may be a paler blue would have been a bit better, but all said and done I like the concept and style. Joma have served up 3 nice kits this year - good effort. |
| Forum
Reply | Ospreys to move out of the Swansea.com?
at 19:37 21 Aug 2025
If I were the Ospreys owners I’d be thinking twice about spending any money in St Helens until this mess is sorted out once and for all, there’s no point developing a ground if there’s not going to be a team to play there.
The WRU have made a pigs guts of this, as they have (imho) with the levels underneath the regions. |
| Forum
Reply | Tommy Robinson
at 21:48 20 Aug 2025
According to a report in the Guardian the victim has been labelled a paedophile after ‘the family video was stolen from the TikTok account of his wife.” The Guardian also claim Robinson refused to remove the video even after it was debunked. |
| Forum
Reply | Ospreys to move out of the Swansea.com?
at 20:35 20 Aug 2025
It’s a mess and the result of WRU ineffectiveness over the last 20 years.
I follow semi pro and local club rugby and will still watch that level, but I think I’m done with putting anymore cash in the pocket of the WRU through going to internationals. |
| Forum
Reply | Swansea has its first Reform councillor
at 17:55 19 Aug 2025
We need more people who are prepared to stand up, speak frankly and tell it as it is, but what we don’t need are people like O’Brien who come out with stupid comments such as putting people down, and as if that wasn’t bad enough she put it in writing! I don’t know O’Brien, but if the old saying about past behaviour being a predictor for future behaviour it may not bode well, on the other hand that may have been a one off which she now regrets.
Reform certainly have a bit of traction at the moment, but quite a few of their cohort have checkered or “colourful” pasts and there’s not much in terms of policy at the moment. |
| Forum
Reply | Ricky Jones
at 16:02 19 Aug 2025
We are not the US and we have a different set of laws. Our judiciary is far more independent and free of political interference than that of many other countries including the IS where judges are political appointments.
The case you mention involving the Ukrainians is set for trial next April and is therefore subject to sub-judice and the media cannot discuss the case, Nick Brown is also subject of an ongoing investigation. |
| Forum
Reply | Ricky Jones
at 19:27 18 Aug 2025
I agree with your point that some people (including a number of politicians) are seeking to make political capital out of this case. I disagree with your comment about both being free had this proceeded to trial by jury. Connolly was Charged with an offence with us easier to prove and did not require the prosecution to prove intent. See Part B below. She was banged to rights hence the early guilty plea to maximise the sentencing discount.
Jones “got away with it” because the prosecution most likely failed to prove the necessary intent. As I’ve said previously, he’s a lucky guy and owes his liberty to his barrister. IMHO he’s not fit to hold public office and should be booted out.
Connolly was Charged with the below.
Publishing or distributing written material.
(1)A person who publishes or distributes written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting is guilty of an offence if—
(a)he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, OR
(b)having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lucy-Connolly-v-The-King.pdf [Post edited 18 Aug 20:07]
|
| Forum
Reply | Ricky Jones
at 15:08 17 Aug 2025
We’ve seen a lot of claims about two tier justice this week, most of them coming from politicians who’re are using the case for their own ends.
The Secret Barrister has published an article concerning the Ricky Jones trial and what is likely to have taken place. It’s a lengthy read, but it looks like one of the aspects of case against Ricky Jones was proving Jones state of mind, specifically that
The person believed that violent disorder would be committed,
and
The person believed that his act would encourage the commission of violent disorder.
We’ve all seen what happened, but if the Prosecution were unable to prove Jones's beliefs and his state of mind about his acts encouraging the commission of violent disorder the case is not proven. It didn’t take the jury long to acquit Jones, so they must have been pretty unanimous in their decision making. There also a useful comparison with the Lucy Connolly case.
In my opinion, Jones has got away with it due to defence strategy.
Unlike the US where there’s a huge amount of prosecution and defence scrutiny around jury selection, in the UK it’s a random selection.
https://thesecretbarrister.com/2025/08/16/why-did-the-jury-acquit-ricky-jones/
Edit - add link
[Post edited 17 Aug 22:23]
|
| Forum
Reply | One in one out
at 22:48 8 Aug 2025
Because it was incompatible with existing legislation. You can’t flog a dead horse! |
| Forum
Reply | Another Brexit referendum
at 22:49 7 Aug 2025
I think trying to govern in an arrangement like we have in Wales is lot more complicated than in many other countries of a similar size.
Between 2010 and 2024 we had a Conservative government in London (who ultimately control the purse strings ) and a Labour government in Wales who were diametrically opposed to each other. Both were undermining each other and seeking to score points against the other to the detriment of the Welsh people.
Wales has deep rooted deprivation and is amongst the poorest parts of the U.K., we have more social deprivation and an older population and these are factors which require more money to address. Some will say Wales was getting a fair share of the resources, others will say that wasn’t the case and sight HS2 and the poverty etc.
If I am being honest, I think the money was a factor, but I also think the Welsh government have got some things very wrong. To prosper we need an excellent infrastructure and the lack of foresight in failing to build a relief road around the Brynglas tunnels is staggering. The 20mph speed limit is another example, it was a manifesto commitment and people should have taken that into account when they cast their vote, but the way it was introduced was very heavy handed and there was little scope for discretion or common sense. 20mph limits are here to stay, they are popping up all over the place in England, but they are more tailored to particular areas which is what we needed to do. The increase in the number of AM’s is also a poor decision.
There’s been some good work to address poverty and social issues, but they need to be considered with everything else that’s going on. I think Transport For Wales will eventually improve the railway passengers lot as the new trains come on stream, but that will take time against a background of long term under investment. The South Wales Metro will also make a big difference to some of the poorest valley communities and improve their connections with Cardiff, as the benefits start to come to fruition in the metro area out we need to see greater investment in South West Wales which will build on the Swansea Bay development project.
I don’t think some of the personalities involved like Vaughan Gething have helped the WG either. |
| Forum
Reply | Probity in government - optics still not great
at 18:24 7 Aug 2025
The I is published by the Daily Mail Group, so we should be cautious as there may have been a political spin put on the story. IF the facts are as they have been portrayed then while she hasn’t done anything illegal, it doesn’t look good.
The house is currently up for sale for just short of £900k, if she gets that according to The I she’ll pick up around £300 k more than she paid for it - I’d hope some serious CGT would be due for the exchequer. [Post edited 7 Aug 18:27]
|
| | majorraglan
|
Site Scores| Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 0 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.