I met some Scots about year ago who said that many North of the border took the view that B Johnson and M Gove should face a trial for public deception over their 350 million extra funding for the N.H.S. if t did not happen.
I'm all for that, but which law exactly? Deceiving the public, not heard of that one. You'd have half the politicians in the country in the nick, if it existed.
I think they should both stand trial for, as Alfie in Peaky Blinders put it, "being a ****. "
I met some Scots about year ago who said that many North of the border took the view that B Johnson and M Gove should face a trial for public deception over their 350 million extra funding for the N.H.S. if t did not happen.
I'm all for that, but which law exactly? Deceiving the public, not heard of that one. You'd have half the politicians in the country in the nick, if it existed.
I think they should both stand trial for, as Alfie in Peaky Blinders put it, "being a ****. "
Arthur not Alfie. Let's be honest Alfie don't even sound scary
I met some Scots about year ago who said that many North of the border took the view that B Johnson and M Gove should face a trial for public deception over their 350 million extra funding for the N.H.S. if t did not happen.
I'm all for that, but which law exactly? Deceiving the public, not heard of that one. You'd have half the politicians in the country in the nick, if it existed.
I think they should both stand trial for, as Alfie in Peaky Blinders put it, "being a ****. "
Arthur not Alfie. Let's be honest Alfie don't even sound scary
I met some Scots about year ago who said that many North of the border took the view that B Johnson and M Gove should face a trial for public deception over their 350 million extra funding for the N.H.S. if t did not happen.
I'm all for that, but which law exactly? Deceiving the public, not heard of that one. You'd have half the politicians in the country in the nick, if it existed.
I think they should both stand trial for, as Alfie in Peaky Blinders put it, "being a ****. "
Arthur not Alfie. Let's be honest Alfie don't even sound scary
Alfie Solomons as brilliantly played by Tom Hardy
Great show - “I hear you’ve got Italians after you tommy, you got a kestrel for them”
I met some Scots about year ago who said that many North of the border took the view that B Johnson and M Gove should face a trial for public deception over their 350 million extra funding for the N.H.S. if t did not happen.
I'm all for that, but which law exactly? Deceiving the public, not heard of that one. You'd have half the politicians in the country in the nick, if it existed.
I think they should both stand trial for, as Alfie in Peaky Blinders put it, "being a ****. "
Arthur not Alfie. Let's be honest Alfie don't even sound scary
I met some Scots about year ago who said that many North of the border took the view that B Johnson and M Gove should face a trial for public deception over their 350 million extra funding for the N.H.S. if t did not happen.
I'm all for that, but which law exactly? Deceiving the public, not heard of that one. You'd have half the politicians in the country in the nick, if it existed.
I think they should both stand trial for, as Alfie in Peaky Blinders put it, "being a ****. "
Arthur not Alfie. Let's be honest Alfie don't even sound scary
So Boris is regaining control of the borders, by a bridge across the Channel.
is there anyone left on this forum who wants to defend this oaf ?
As a reminder
- the Olympic Stadium - the Garden Bridge - The Emirates Airline cable car - the buses - the idea of an airport in the estuary (i.e. Maplin Sands, rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today) - and the idea of a Channel Bridge (rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today)
What do all these projects have in common? They are all physical entities, things that can be looked at and associated with the person who would claim to have made them happen
Of course the other thing they have in common is that all which have come to fruition are massive failures, and costing you, the taxpayer,money. Today.
Didn't Mrs T get the Dartford Bridge to happen ? Good thing or bad thing ?
Well, i do not think that Thatcher woke up one day and said "you know what?. That crossing needs a bridge" I believe that if she had anything at all to do with it, she simply intervened on the side of those advocating it. There were years of study by (brace yourself) experts addressing a problem, namely that the tunnel was reaching full capacity,and the M25 would make things much worse. (not sure of the exact chronology but sure about the problem).
The Tunnel doesn't have that problem. It's nowhere near full capacity, and until we see the effects of your beloved Brexit, most stakeholders are expecting that situation to remain. Eurostar cut trains in the autumn after Brexit.
I heard a couple of people who would earn money if a bridge was conceived, justifying it on the basis that "some people don't like a tunnel". FFS. My late Mum was one who said that, before we took her off to Lille for a Christmas lunch. I asked her if she did not recall her days commuting on the Tube. She made the journey three times subsequently. I don't much like flying in bad weather, but I just do it. I think I'd draw the line at crossing such a bridge in a Force 8 in January though. Of course I wouldn't be able to, they would close it.
What a ****ing stupid idea, the latest of several from one of the biggest planks ever to enter modern British government.
£900m his other projects have cost, @Valiantphil. And I forgot the bikes. Happy that you've paid for all that?
A bit off-topic if you will permit, but....... UK smoking ban Good idea or bad idea ?
Has he claimed credit for that too? Ah of course, it begins with a "B". Boris Ban...
So Boris is regaining control of the borders, by a bridge across the Channel.
is there anyone left on this forum who wants to defend this oaf ?
As a reminder
- the Olympic Stadium - the Garden Bridge - The Emirates Airline cable car - the buses - the idea of an airport in the estuary (i.e. Maplin Sands, rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today) - and the idea of a Channel Bridge (rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today)
What do all these projects have in common? They are all physical entities, things that can be looked at and associated with the person who would claim to have made them happen
Of course the other thing they have in common is that all which have come to fruition are massive failures, and costing you, the taxpayer,money. Today.
Didn't Mrs T get the Dartford Bridge to happen ? Good thing or bad thing ?
Well, i do not think that Thatcher woke up one day and said "you know what?. That crossing needs a bridge" I believe that if she had anything at all to do with it, she simply intervened on the side of those advocating it. There were years of study by (brace yourself) experts addressing a problem, namely that the tunnel was reaching full capacity,and the M25 would make things much worse. (not sure of the exact chronology but sure about the problem).
The Tunnel doesn't have that problem. It's nowhere near full capacity, and until we see the effects of your beloved Brexit, most stakeholders are expecting that situation to remain. Eurostar cut trains in the autumn after Brexit.
I heard a couple of people who would earn money if a bridge was conceived, justifying it on the basis that "some people don't like a tunnel". FFS. My late Mum was one who said that, before we took her off to Lille for a Christmas lunch. I asked her if she did not recall her days commuting on the Tube. She made the journey three times subsequently. I don't much like flying in bad weather, but I just do it. I think I'd draw the line at crossing such a bridge in a Force 8 in January though. Of course I wouldn't be able to, they would close it.
What a ****ing stupid idea, the latest of several from one of the biggest planks ever to enter modern British government.
£900m his other projects have cost, @Valiantphil. And I forgot the bikes. Happy that you've paid for all that?
A bit off-topic if you will permit, but....... UK smoking ban Good idea or bad idea ?
Has he claimed credit for that too? Ah of course, it begins with a "B". Boris Ban...
Tell me why you are asking in this thread, and I will give you an answer.
You will be aware that other smoking bans are available? (i.e. they've been introduced recently in many other countries, including the one where I live).
Oh great. On Twitter it has just emerged what Eurostar already told a House of Lords select committee a year ago.
Experience suggests that removing juxtaposed controls and replacing them with “on arrival” controls would increase journey time by c.40 minutes each way. That is the equivalent of taking away the entire UK investment in HS1. The number of passengers using the service might be expect to fall significantly in such an eventuality, with a particular focus on time-sensitive business travel. Eurostar could not sustain such a re-alignment in its present form.
In addition to juxtaposed controls, Eurostar depends on the joint and rapid processing of UK and EU citizens at the border. Eurostar operates out of highly capacity-constrained stations in each of its principal locations. These are listed buildings in city-centres and cannot be re-modelled without significant investments and years of planning. There is no capacity at these locations to remodel the use of space (nor does UK Border Force have the current resources) in order to process UK and EU separately and/or to process EU citizens at the border.
Lastly, should the UK leave the customs union and re-establish custom controls, these new customs obligations would be very difficult to put in place in the restricted space available in stations, and would make our current cargo business (Eurodespatch) economically unviable.
Just great. Yet another to add to the file marked "thousands of implications of Brexit those clowns never thought of"
So Boris is regaining control of the borders, by a bridge across the Channel.
is there anyone left on this forum who wants to defend this oaf ?
As a reminder
- the Olympic Stadium - the Garden Bridge - The Emirates Airline cable car - the buses - the idea of an airport in the estuary (i.e. Maplin Sands, rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today) - and the idea of a Channel Bridge (rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today)
What do all these projects have in common? They are all physical entities, things that can be looked at and associated with the person who would claim to have made them happen
Of course the other thing they have in common is that all which have come to fruition are massive failures, and costing you, the taxpayer,money. Today.
Didn't Mrs T get the Dartford Bridge to happen ? Good thing or bad thing ?
Well, i do not think that Thatcher woke up one day and said "you know what?. That crossing needs a bridge" I believe that if she had anything at all to do with it, she simply intervened on the side of those advocating it. There were years of study by (brace yourself) experts addressing a problem, namely that the tunnel was reaching full capacity,and the M25 would make things much worse. (not sure of the exact chronology but sure about the problem).
The Tunnel doesn't have that problem. It's nowhere near full capacity, and until we see the effects of your beloved Brexit, most stakeholders are expecting that situation to remain. Eurostar cut trains in the autumn after Brexit.
I heard a couple of people who would earn money if a bridge was conceived, justifying it on the basis that "some people don't like a tunnel". FFS. My late Mum was one who said that, before we took her off to Lille for a Christmas lunch. I asked her if she did not recall her days commuting on the Tube. She made the journey three times subsequently. I don't much like flying in bad weather, but I just do it. I think I'd draw the line at crossing such a bridge in a Force 8 in January though. Of course I wouldn't be able to, they would close it.
What a ****ing stupid idea, the latest of several from one of the biggest planks ever to enter modern British government.
£900m his other projects have cost, @Valiantphil. And I forgot the bikes. Happy that you've paid for all that?
A bit off-topic if you will permit, but....... UK smoking ban Good idea or bad idea ?
Has he claimed credit for that too? Ah of course, it begins with a "B". Boris Ban...
Tell me why you are asking in this thread, and I will give you an answer.
You will be aware that other smoking bans are available? (i.e. they've been introduced recently in many other countries, including the one where I live).
Bit cagey over a straightforward question - yes/no/no view ?
So Boris is regaining control of the borders, by a bridge across the Channel.
is there anyone left on this forum who wants to defend this oaf ?
As a reminder
- the Olympic Stadium - the Garden Bridge - The Emirates Airline cable car - the buses - the idea of an airport in the estuary (i.e. Maplin Sands, rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today) - and the idea of a Channel Bridge (rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today)
What do all these projects have in common? They are all physical entities, things that can be looked at and associated with the person who would claim to have made them happen
Of course the other thing they have in common is that all which have come to fruition are massive failures, and costing you, the taxpayer,money. Today.
Didn't Mrs T get the Dartford Bridge to happen ? Good thing or bad thing ?
Well, i do not think that Thatcher woke up one day and said "you know what?. That crossing needs a bridge" I believe that if she had anything at all to do with it, she simply intervened on the side of those advocating it. There were years of study by (brace yourself) experts addressing a problem, namely that the tunnel was reaching full capacity,and the M25 would make things much worse. (not sure of the exact chronology but sure about the problem).
The Tunnel doesn't have that problem. It's nowhere near full capacity, and until we see the effects of your beloved Brexit, most stakeholders are expecting that situation to remain. Eurostar cut trains in the autumn after Brexit.
I heard a couple of people who would earn money if a bridge was conceived, justifying it on the basis that "some people don't like a tunnel". FFS. My late Mum was one who said that, before we took her off to Lille for a Christmas lunch. I asked her if she did not recall her days commuting on the Tube. She made the journey three times subsequently. I don't much like flying in bad weather, but I just do it. I think I'd draw the line at crossing such a bridge in a Force 8 in January though. Of course I wouldn't be able to, they would close it.
What a ****ing stupid idea, the latest of several from one of the biggest planks ever to enter modern British government.
£900m his other projects have cost, @Valiantphil. And I forgot the bikes. Happy that you've paid for all that?
A bit off-topic if you will permit, but....... UK smoking ban Good idea or bad idea ?
Has he claimed credit for that too? Ah of course, it begins with a "B". Boris Ban...
Tell me why you are asking in this thread, and I will give you an answer.
You will be aware that other smoking bans are available? (i.e. they've been introduced recently in many other countries, including the one where I live).
Bit cagey over a straightforward question - yes/no/no view ?
Oh don't you worry, i've got a view that could take up an entire page, but as it is I get accused of diverting threads, sometimes rightly, so i have no wish to add to that. You've got a choice. Explain (to everyone) what your question's got to do with Brexit, or open a new thread, if there wasn't one already. Be my guest, as the new president of the free world says...
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
So Boris is regaining control of the borders, by a bridge across the Channel.
is there anyone left on this forum who wants to defend this oaf ?
As a reminder
- the Olympic Stadium - the Garden Bridge - The Emirates Airline cable car - the buses - the idea of an airport in the estuary (i.e. Maplin Sands, rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today) - and the idea of a Channel Bridge (rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today)
What do all these projects have in common? They are all physical entities, things that can be looked at and associated with the person who would claim to have made them happen
Of course the other thing they have in common is that all which have come to fruition are massive failures, and costing you, the taxpayer,money. Today.
Didn't Mrs T get the Dartford Bridge to happen ? Good thing or bad thing ?
Well, i do not think that Thatcher woke up one day and said "you know what?. That crossing needs a bridge" I believe that if she had anything at all to do with it, she simply intervened on the side of those advocating it. There were years of study by (brace yourself) experts addressing a problem, namely that the tunnel was reaching full capacity,and the M25 would make things much worse. (not sure of the exact chronology but sure about the problem).
The Tunnel doesn't have that problem. It's nowhere near full capacity, and until we see the effects of your beloved Brexit, most stakeholders are expecting that situation to remain. Eurostar cut trains in the autumn after Brexit.
I heard a couple of people who would earn money if a bridge was conceived, justifying it on the basis that "some people don't like a tunnel". FFS. My late Mum was one who said that, before we took her off to Lille for a Christmas lunch. I asked her if she did not recall her days commuting on the Tube. She made the journey three times subsequently. I don't much like flying in bad weather, but I just do it. I think I'd draw the line at crossing such a bridge in a Force 8 in January though. Of course I wouldn't be able to, they would close it.
What a ****ing stupid idea, the latest of several from one of the biggest planks ever to enter modern British government.
£900m his other projects have cost, @Valiantphil. And I forgot the bikes. Happy that you've paid for all that?
A bit off-topic if you will permit, but....... UK smoking ban Good idea or bad idea ?
Has he claimed credit for that too? Ah of course, it begins with a "B". Boris Ban...
Tell me why you are asking in this thread, and I will give you an answer.
You will be aware that other smoking bans are available? (i.e. they've been introduced recently in many other countries, including the one where I live).
Bit cagey over a straightforward question - yes/no/no view ?
Oh don't you worry, i've got a view that could take up an entire page, but as it is I get accused of diverting threads, sometimes rightly, so i have no wish to add to that. You've got a choice. Explain (to everyone) what your question's got to do with Brexit, or open a new thread, if there wasn't one already. Be my guest, as the new president of the free world says...
You had the first choice - answer/don't answer, but fair enough. This thread is about the influence of the EU on Britain (not Brexit), and the attitude to smoking is different in some EU countries. I was curious as to your view - but no need to bother now.
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
Totally agree. I can't think of one mainstream UK politician that is as impressive as Macron. It would be great if we had ever closer union with people like him, but the UK is left with arseholes like Boris Johnson.
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
"Efficiency. Authority. Humanity". He set them out as his ground-rules for his Presidency.
Can May claim even one of those three? Could any current major UK politician claim that as PM they too would deliver on all three? I can think of one. Just one. And unfortunately, she is Scottish.
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
Totally agree. I can't think of one mainstream UK politician that is as impressive as Macron. It would be great if we had ever closer union with people like him, but the UK is left with arseholes like Boris Johnson.
He sounds good and he writes decent articles. But I am still unsure about him. He should ensure that he also concentrates on domestic issues.
With regard to his plans for the EU, I believe he is right ... the only way the EU can work properly is fiscal union and federality (a scenario, as you are aware, that I do not want the UK to be part of).
But it is doubtful that his ideas will ever be generally accepted in Europe.
So Boris is regaining control of the borders, by a bridge across the Channel.
is there anyone left on this forum who wants to defend this oaf ?
As a reminder
- the Olympic Stadium - the Garden Bridge - The Emirates Airline cable car - the buses - the idea of an airport in the estuary (i.e. Maplin Sands, rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today) - and the idea of a Channel Bridge (rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today)
What do all these projects have in common? They are all physical entities, things that can be looked at and associated with the person who would claim to have made them happen
Of course the other thing they have in common is that all which have come to fruition are massive failures, and costing you, the taxpayer,money. Today.
Didn't Mrs T get the Dartford Bridge to happen ? Good thing or bad thing ?
Well, i do not think that Thatcher woke up one day and said "you know what?. That crossing needs a bridge" I believe that if she had anything at all to do with it, she simply intervened on the side of those advocating it. There were years of study by (brace yourself) experts addressing a problem, namely that the tunnel was reaching full capacity,and the M25 would make things much worse. (not sure of the exact chronology but sure about the problem).
The Tunnel doesn't have that problem. It's nowhere near full capacity, and until we see the effects of your beloved Brexit, most stakeholders are expecting that situation to remain. Eurostar cut trains in the autumn after Brexit.
I heard a couple of people who would earn money if a bridge was conceived, justifying it on the basis that "some people don't like a tunnel". FFS. My late Mum was one who said that, before we took her off to Lille for a Christmas lunch. I asked her if she did not recall her days commuting on the Tube. She made the journey three times subsequently. I don't much like flying in bad weather, but I just do it. I think I'd draw the line at crossing such a bridge in a Force 8 in January though. Of course I wouldn't be able to, they would close it.
What a ****ing stupid idea, the latest of several from one of the biggest planks ever to enter modern British government.
£900m his other projects have cost, @Valiantphil. And I forgot the bikes. Happy that you've paid for all that?
A bit off-topic if you will permit, but....... UK smoking ban Good idea or bad idea ?
Has he claimed credit for that too? Ah of course, it begins with a "B". Boris Ban...
Tell me why you are asking in this thread, and I will give you an answer.
You will be aware that other smoking bans are available? (i.e. they've been introduced recently in many other countries, including the one where I live).
Bit cagey over a straightforward question - yes/no/no view ?
Oh don't you worry, i've got a view that could take up an entire page, but as it is I get accused of diverting threads, sometimes rightly, so i have no wish to add to that. You've got a choice. Explain (to everyone) what your question's got to do with Brexit, or open a new thread, if there wasn't one already. Be my guest, as the new president of the free world says...
You had the first choice - answer/don't answer, but fair enough. This thread is about the influence of the EU on Britain (not Brexit), and the attitude to smoking is different in some EU countries. I was curious as to your view - but no need to bother now.
Oh, no, you are not getting away that easily.
Two points. Each country's smoking ban is different, and has been brought in at different times. You didn't seek to claim that this too was some kind of imposed EU little green men regulation that must be adhered to, against the will of the people, did you?
Second, are you familiar with the current shares of total population in each EU country who smoke (defined as at least one a day)? I think possibly not. The highest is Bulgaria. No surprise there, but the figure is only 27%. Actually it is a surprise, because until last year it was the Greeks, but to everyone's surprise they have cut their figure by 9 percentage points in the last 4 years. In Sweden the figure is only 8%. In Britain? 13.7%.
So, apart from anything else, if you want to allow pubs or restaurants to continue to have smoking areas you need to think about the people who would staff those zones. Knowing what we do about the risks of passive smoking, it would need to be the law that people only work in those zones having specifically consented. Since we allegedly have full employment, and since 86% of the population don't smoke, recruitment of such personnel might be a tad tricky, don't you think?
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
Totally agree. I can't think of one mainstream UK politician that is as impressive as Macron. It would be great if we had ever closer union with people like him, but the UK is left with arseholes like Boris Johnson.
He sounds good and he writes decent articles. But I am still unsure about him. He should ensure that he also concentrates on domestic issues.
With regard to his plans for the EU, I believe he is right ... the only way the EU can work properly is fiscal union and federality (a scenario, as you are aware, that I do not want the UK to be part of).
But it is doubtful that his ideas will ever be generally accepted in Europe.
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
Totally agree. I can't think of one mainstream UK politician that is as impressive as Macron. It would be great if we had ever closer union with people like him, but the UK is left with arseholes like Boris Johnson.
He sounds good and he writes decent articles. But I am still unsure about him. He should ensure that he also concentrates on domestic issues.
With regard to his plans for the EU, I believe he is right ... the only way the EU can work properly is fiscal union and federality (a scenario, as you are aware, that I do not want the UK to be part of).
But it is doubtful that his ideas will ever be generally accepted in Europe.
You and I differ. I see no reason or benefit in the UK standing alone as it were, it is as absurd to me as independence for the Isle of Dogs might seem to many. Recently I have mused on this power grab concept. Many critics of the EU see it as a power grab institution aimed at emasculating the UK, yet many critics of brexiters see them as power grabbers for the UK ruling class forever. I would prefer to surrender any autonomy I might have to the broader and richer amorphous institution of the EU than to surrender any autonomy I might have to the narrow Oxbridge shire driven ruling class in the UK that has always been in charge. The institutional media bile towards genuine outsiders like black female politicians (unless they are waved about as tokens by the Tories) or Jeremy Corbyn (remember Cameron's tirade about Corbyns dress sense one PMQ's?) is ever present, and indeed in real terms the ministerial hunger for those Henry V111 clauses strengthens my view. The EU is more democratic than the UK and that pisses brexiters off.
So Boris is regaining control of the borders, by a bridge across the Channel.
is there anyone left on this forum who wants to defend this oaf ?
As a reminder
- the Olympic Stadium - the Garden Bridge - The Emirates Airline cable car - the buses - the idea of an airport in the estuary (i.e. Maplin Sands, rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today) - and the idea of a Channel Bridge (rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today)
What do all these projects have in common? They are all physical entities, things that can be looked at and associated with the person who would claim to have made them happen
Of course the other thing they have in common is that all which have come to fruition are massive failures, and costing you, the taxpayer,money. Today.
Didn't Mrs T get the Dartford Bridge to happen ? Good thing or bad thing ?
Well, i do not think that Thatcher woke up one day and said "you know what?. That crossing needs a bridge" I believe that if she had anything at all to do with it, she simply intervened on the side of those advocating it. There were years of study by (brace yourself) experts addressing a problem, namely that the tunnel was reaching full capacity,and the M25 would make things much worse. (not sure of the exact chronology but sure about the problem).
The Tunnel doesn't have that problem. It's nowhere near full capacity, and until we see the effects of your beloved Brexit, most stakeholders are expecting that situation to remain. Eurostar cut trains in the autumn after Brexit.
I heard a couple of people who would earn money if a bridge was conceived, justifying it on the basis that "some people don't like a tunnel". FFS. My late Mum was one who said that, before we took her off to Lille for a Christmas lunch. I asked her if she did not recall her days commuting on the Tube. She made the journey three times subsequently. I don't much like flying in bad weather, but I just do it. I think I'd draw the line at crossing such a bridge in a Force 8 in January though. Of course I wouldn't be able to, they would close it.
What a ****ing stupid idea, the latest of several from one of the biggest planks ever to enter modern British government.
£900m his other projects have cost, @Valiantphil. And I forgot the bikes. Happy that you've paid for all that?
A bit off-topic if you will permit, but....... UK smoking ban Good idea or bad idea ?
Has he claimed credit for that too? Ah of course, it begins with a "B". Boris Ban...
Tell me why you are asking in this thread, and I will give you an answer.
You will be aware that other smoking bans are available? (i.e. they've been introduced recently in many other countries, including the one where I live).
Bit cagey over a straightforward question - yes/no/no view ?
Oh don't you worry, i've got a view that could take up an entire page, but as it is I get accused of diverting threads, sometimes rightly, so i have no wish to add to that. You've got a choice. Explain (to everyone) what your question's got to do with Brexit, or open a new thread, if there wasn't one already. Be my guest, as the new president of the free world says...
You had the first choice - answer/don't answer, but fair enough. This thread is about the influence of the EU on Britain (not Brexit), and the attitude to smoking is different in some EU countries. I was curious as to your view - but no need to bother now.
Simple binary choice, no information provided as to why you are asking, when the guillotine falls you can no longer have a say. Blimey, did you model your question on the Brexit referendum?
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
Totally agree. I can't think of one mainstream UK politician that is as impressive as Macron. It would be great if we had ever closer union with people like him, but the UK is left with arseholes like Boris Johnson.
He sounds good and he writes decent articles. But I am still unsure about him. He should ensure that he also concentrates on domestic issues.
With regard to his plans for the EU, I believe he is right ... the only way the EU can work properly is fiscal union and federality (a scenario, as you are aware, that I do not want the UK to be part of).
But it is doubtful that his ideas will ever be generally accepted in Europe.
Why should he "concentrate on domestic issues"?
With all due respect to @stonemuse, who does read widely, I doubt whether he would know what all the domestic issues even are, as it is unreasonable to expect him to read Le Monde, Figaro, Liberation, etc. He might think he knows what they are, but if he read of them in, say, the Daily Telegraph, then there might be a small problem of perspective.
Macron has in fact already embarked on highly ambitious domestic projects to reform the French economy in ways which foreign critics have been demanding for 20 years. There is no guarantee he will succeed, however thus far, the response from the usual French suspects has been less furious than predicted.
If only the UK had a politician with Macron's vision and ambition (and the ability to explain them in at least one foreign language). Our version of "vision" is a plank with a fixation on bridges or other physical entities which can bear his name.
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
Totally agree. I can't think of one mainstream UK politician that is as impressive as Macron. It would be great if we had ever closer union with people like him, but the UK is left with arseholes like Boris Johnson.
He sounds good and he writes decent articles. But I am still unsure about him. He should ensure that he also concentrates on domestic issues.
With regard to his plans for the EU, I believe he is right ... the only way the EU can work properly is fiscal union and federality (a scenario, as you are aware, that I do not want the UK to be part of).
But it is doubtful that his ideas will ever be generally accepted in Europe.
Why should he "concentrate on domestic issues"?
With all due respect to @stonemuse, who does read widely, I doubt whether he would know what all the domestic issues even are, as it is unreasonable to expect him to read Le Monde, Figaro, Liberation, etc. He might think he knows what they are, but if he read of them in, say, the Daily Telegraph, then there might be a small problem of perspective.
Macron has in fact already embarked on highly ambitious domestic projects to reform the French economy in ways which foreign critics have been demanding for 20 years. There is no guarantee he will succeed, however thus far, the response from the usual French suspects has been less furious than predicted.
If only the UK had a politician with Macron's vision and ambition (and the ability to explain them in at least one foreign language). Our version of "vision" is a plank with a fixation on bridges or other physical entities which can bear his name.
Fair enough. I am certainly not anti-Macron ...he talks a lot of truths and is not afraid to voice his opinion - I like that.
Just watching Macron on Marr, I don't know a great deal about his politics but he seems so much more credible than any of the politicians, on any side of the divide, that we have.
Totally agree. I can't think of one mainstream UK politician that is as impressive as Macron. It would be great if we had ever closer union with people like him, but the UK is left with arseholes like Boris Johnson.
He sounds good and he writes decent articles. But I am still unsure about him. He should ensure that he also concentrates on domestic issues.
With regard to his plans for the EU, I believe he is right ... the only way the EU can work properly is fiscal union and federality (a scenario, as you are aware, that I do not want the UK to be part of).
But it is doubtful that his ideas will ever be generally accepted in Europe.
Why should he "concentrate on domestic issues"?
With all due respect to @stonemuse, who does read widely, I doubt whether he would know what all the domestic issues even are, as it is unreasonable to expect him to read Le Monde, Figaro, Liberation, etc. He might think he knows what they are, but if he read of them in, say, the Daily Telegraph, then there might be a small problem of perspective.
Macron has in fact already embarked on highly ambitious domestic projects to reform the French economy in ways which foreign critics have been demanding for 20 years. There is no guarantee he will succeed, however thus far, the response from the usual French suspects has been less furious than predicted.
If only the UK had a politician with Macron's vision and ambition (and the ability to explain them in at least one foreign language). Our version of "vision" is a plank with a fixation on bridges or other physical entities which can bear his name.
So Boris is regaining control of the borders, by a bridge across the Channel.
is there anyone left on this forum who wants to defend this oaf ?
As a reminder
- the Olympic Stadium - the Garden Bridge - The Emirates Airline cable car - the buses - the idea of an airport in the estuary (i.e. Maplin Sands, rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today) - and the idea of a Channel Bridge (rejected 40 odd years ago, for good reasons which apply today)
What do all these projects have in common? They are all physical entities, things that can be looked at and associated with the person who would claim to have made them happen
Of course the other thing they have in common is that all which have come to fruition are massive failures, and costing you, the taxpayer,money. Today.
Didn't Mrs T get the Dartford Bridge to happen ? Good thing or bad thing ?
Well, i do not think that Thatcher woke up one day and said "you know what?. That crossing needs a bridge" I believe that if she had anything at all to do with it, she simply intervened on the side of those advocating it. There were years of study by (brace yourself) experts addressing a problem, namely that the tunnel was reaching full capacity,and the M25 would make things much worse. (not sure of the exact chronology but sure about the problem).
The Tunnel doesn't have that problem. It's nowhere near full capacity, and until we see the effects of your beloved Brexit, most stakeholders are expecting that situation to remain. Eurostar cut trains in the autumn after Brexit.
I heard a couple of people who would earn money if a bridge was conceived, justifying it on the basis that "some people don't like a tunnel". FFS. My late Mum was one who said that, before we took her off to Lille for a Christmas lunch. I asked her if she did not recall her days commuting on the Tube. She made the journey three times subsequently. I don't much like flying in bad weather, but I just do it. I think I'd draw the line at crossing such a bridge in a Force 8 in January though. Of course I wouldn't be able to, they would close it.
What a ****ing stupid idea, the latest of several from one of the biggest planks ever to enter modern British government.
£900m his other projects have cost, @Valiantphil. And I forgot the bikes. Happy that you've paid for all that?
A bit off-topic if you will permit, but....... UK smoking ban Good idea or bad idea ?
Has he claimed credit for that too? Ah of course, it begins with a "B". Boris Ban...
Tell me why you are asking in this thread, and I will give you an answer.
You will be aware that other smoking bans are available? (i.e. they've been introduced recently in many other countries, including the one where I live).
Bit cagey over a straightforward question - yes/no/no view ?
Oh don't you worry, i've got a view that could take up an entire page, but as it is I get accused of diverting threads, sometimes rightly, so i have no wish to add to that. You've got a choice. Explain (to everyone) what your question's got to do with Brexit, or open a new thread, if there wasn't one already. Be my guest, as the new president of the free world says...
You had the first choice - answer/don't answer, but fair enough. This thread is about the influence of the EU on Britain (not Brexit), and the attitude to smoking is different in some EU countries. I was curious as to your view - but no need to bother now.
Oh, no, you are not getting away that easily.
Two points. Each country's smoking ban is different, and has been brought in at different times. You didn't seek to claim that this too was some kind of imposed EU little green men regulation that must be adhered to, against the will of the people, did you?
Second, are you familiar with the current shares of total population in each EU country who smoke (defined as at least one a day)? I think possibly not. The highest is Bulgaria. No surprise there, but the figure is only 27%. Actually it is a surprise, because until last year it was the Greeks, but to everyone's surprise they have cut their figure by 9 percentage points in the last 4 years. In Sweden the figure is only 8%. In Britain? 13.7%.
So, apart from anything else, if you want to allow pubs or restaurants to continue to have smoking areas you need to think about the people who would staff those zones. Knowing what we do about the risks of passive smoking, it would need to be the law that people only work in those zones having specifically consented. Since we allegedly have full employment, and since 86% of the population don't smoke, recruitment of such personnel might be a tad tricky, don't you think?
You had your chance. You won’t know my view, as per Stig’s observation above, but thank you for yours.
Comments
Let's be honest Alfie don't even sound scary
Alfie the Hun.
Nah
No view either way ?
Yeah, yeah I know “who’s (whose) he”?, “Best of three” etc. He makes a very good point though.
You will be aware that other smoking bans are available? (i.e. they've been introduced recently in many other countries, including the one where I live).
Experience suggests that removing juxtaposed controls and replacing them with “on arrival” controls would increase journey time by c.40 minutes each way. That is the equivalent of taking away the entire UK investment in HS1. The number of passengers using the service might be expect to fall significantly in such an eventuality, with a particular focus on time-sensitive business travel. Eurostar could not sustain such a re-alignment in its present form.
In addition to juxtaposed controls, Eurostar depends on the joint and rapid processing of UK and EU citizens at the border. Eurostar operates out of highly capacity-constrained stations in each of its principal locations. These are listed buildings in city-centres and cannot be re-modelled without significant investments and years of planning. There is no capacity at these locations to remodel the use of space (nor does UK Border Force have the current resources) in order to process UK and EU separately and/or to process EU citizens at the border.
Lastly, should the UK leave the customs union and re-establish custom controls, these new customs obligations would be very difficult to put in place in the restricted space available in stations, and would make our current cargo business (Eurodespatch) economically unviable.
Just great. Yet another to add to the file marked "thousands of implications of Brexit those clowns never thought of"
Then stop gunning for a no deal and stop trying to drag us out without a clear mandate from the British people you useless fool.
This thread is about the influence of the EU on Britain (not Brexit), and the attitude to smoking is different in some EU countries. I was curious as to your view - but no need to bother now.
I can't think of one mainstream UK politician that is as impressive as Macron.
It would be great if we had ever closer union with people like him, but the UK is left with arseholes like Boris Johnson.
Can May claim even one of those three? Could any current major UK politician claim that as PM they too would deliver on all three? I can think of one. Just one. And unfortunately, she is Scottish.
With regard to his plans for the EU, I believe he is right ... the only way the EU can work properly is fiscal union and federality (a scenario, as you are aware, that I do not want the UK to be part of).
But it is doubtful that his ideas will ever be generally accepted in Europe.
Two points. Each country's smoking ban is different, and has been brought in at different times. You didn't seek to claim that this too was some kind of imposed EU little green men regulation that must be adhered to, against the will of the people, did you?
Second, are you familiar with the current shares of total population in each EU country who smoke (defined as at least one a day)? I think possibly not. The highest is Bulgaria. No surprise there, but the figure is only 27%. Actually it is a surprise, because until last year it was the Greeks, but to everyone's surprise they have cut their figure by 9 percentage points in the last 4 years. In Sweden the figure is only 8%. In Britain? 13.7%.
So, apart from anything else, if you want to allow pubs or restaurants to continue to have smoking areas you need to think about the people who would staff those zones. Knowing what we do about the risks of passive smoking, it would need to be the law that people only work in those zones having specifically consented. Since we allegedly have full employment, and since 86% of the population don't smoke, recruitment of such personnel might be a tad tricky, don't you think?
Recently I have mused on this power grab concept. Many critics of the EU see it as a power grab institution aimed at emasculating the UK, yet many critics of brexiters see them as power grabbers for the UK ruling class forever.
I would prefer to surrender any autonomy I might have to the broader and richer amorphous institution of the EU than to surrender any autonomy I might have to the narrow Oxbridge shire driven ruling class in the UK that has always been in charge.
The institutional media bile towards genuine outsiders like black female politicians (unless they are waved about as tokens by the Tories) or Jeremy Corbyn (remember Cameron's tirade about Corbyns dress sense one PMQ's?) is ever present, and indeed in real terms the ministerial hunger for those Henry V111 clauses strengthens my view.
The EU is more democratic than the UK and that pisses brexiters off.
Macron has in fact already embarked on highly ambitious domestic projects to reform the French economy in ways which foreign critics have been demanding for 20 years. There is no guarantee he will succeed, however thus far, the response from the usual French suspects has been less furious than predicted.
If only the UK had a politician with Macron's vision and ambition (and the ability to explain them in at least one foreign language). Our version of "vision" is a plank with a fixation on bridges or other physical entities which can bear his name.