Because The United Kingdom?

[JWB]

 

[JWB]

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

You see, Britain is capable of leading the world in something.

It is literally ALWAYS like this when there is a Conservative Government. All through the 1980's and 1990's our roads were increasingly cut to ribbons. We had a Labour Government for 13 years and the roads, at long last were starting to look pretty good around here. And then the Conservatives took over, and guess what? They all turned into shell holes again.

Conservatives are very good at offering tax cuts, but thats because they arent delivering on vital services. Kind of an easy trick when you master it.

[Rick]

4 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

You see, Britain is capable of leading the world in something.

It is literally ALWAYS like this when there is a Conservative Government. All through the 1980's and 1990's our roads were increasingly cut to ribbons. We had a Labour Government for 13 years and the roads, at long last were starting to look pretty good around here. And then the Conservatives took over, and guess what? They all turned into shell holes again.

Conservatives are very good at offering tax cuts, but thats because they arent delivering on vital services. Kind of an easy trick when you master it.

Out of curiosity, does Great Britain fund its roads on a local, regional (similar to a U.S. state), and national level?

[Stuart Galbraith]

Local, it's a job for the local councils, so when they cut local funding from central Government, they are the first to go. The Motorways are done nationally by the Highways Agency iirc.

They were talking about changing over to a nation system, like we maintain our railways, under the last Labour Government. But it didn't happen for whatever reason.

https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/the-condition-and-maintenance-of-local-roads-in-england/

Edited July 24, 2024 by Stuart Galbraith

[JWB]

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

To get to 2.5 percent of GDP on Defence, they are going to need a large chunk of that anyway.

Incidentally, it was fascinating to hear prime ministers question time yesterday, and both the Prime Minister and the former Prime minister were talking about Security. Reading between the lines, it would seem Whitehall is scared shitless, and with good reason. This is the first time ive heard defence occupy such a prominent position since the late 1980's.

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[rmgill]

They're castrating kids, presiding over the destruction of the west and trying for part 2 of the holocaust. I'm not sure how this is all an improvement.

[Murph]

Stuart, not being a student of UK politics, what exactly is a "shadow Prime Minister" ?

 

Also the mayor of London, how powerful is he in the grand scheme of things?

[Ssnake]

AIUI, the "shadow cabinet" is the opposition's team, should a surprise election sweep them into the office.

[Murph]

AH, do they actually get any part of running the government or have any sort of active role in things?  

[R011]

43 minutes ago, Murph said:

Stuart, not being a student of UK politics, what exactly is a "shadow Prime Minister" ?

 

Also the mayor of London, how powerful is he in the grand scheme of things?

A shadow minister is an opposition member assigned to specifically critique a particular ministry and minister. Should the opposition become the government, a shadow minister would be a likely pick for the actual minister in the new government.

I've not often heard "Shadow Prime Minister" applied to a leader of an opposition party, but that's what he would be.  The guy who would be PM if that party becomes the government.  In Canada, at least, he's almost always referred to as "Leader of the Opposition" or "Leader of [whatever Party he leads]".

[Murph]

Do they get the same briefings, and information that regular ministers get?

[R011]

3 minutes ago, Murph said:

Do they get the same briefings, and information that regular ministers get?

No.    However, they can ask questions of ministers in Parliament, as can any member,  and the minister is expected to answer more or less truthfully (though not necessarily fully).  In practice, ministers tend to give artfully worded non-answers that only technically count as replies and the whole charade is usually intended as point scoring by both sides.

Edited July 26, 2024 by R011

[Ivanhoe]

[Mr King]

10 minutes ago, Ivanhoe said:

lmao

[Stuart Galbraith]

9 hours ago, Ssnake said:

AIUI, the "shadow cabinet" is the opposition's team, should a surprise election sweep them into the office.

 

10 hours ago, Murph said:

Stuart, not being a student of UK politics, what exactly is a "shadow Prime Minister" ?

 

Also the mayor of London, how powerful is he in the grand scheme of things?

Yes, its not a term Ive often heard used. The usual term is 'Leader of HM Official oposition', or as they say on quesiton time, leader of the opposition.

https://members.parliament.uk/Opposition/Cabinet

 

9 hours ago, R011 said:

No.    However, they can ask questions of ministers in Parliament, as can any member,  and the minister is expected to answer more or less truthfully (though not necessarily fully).  In practice, ministers tend to give artfully worded non-answers that only technically count as replies and the whole charade is usually intended as point scoring by both sides.

That is generally true, though there may be exceptions. For example, Ive heard that Healey the defence secretary is sharing briefings with the shadow defence secretary for the opposition. Which makes sense, largely because they were only in 5 minutes ago and go the Ukraine response rolling, and also because Labour want to try and make defence a non political issue, as it always should have been. It seems likely that as far as security, Sunak may also still be getting the same briefings, because why brief a subordinate, but not the leader?

Generally though, no, they wont get the same briefings, particularly if the Government of the day has something to hide like, oh I dont know, giving titles to corrupt Russians, boozy parties during lockdown, cash for honours, that kind of thing. Which never happens, natch.

[Murph]

16 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

point scored!  LOL

[rmgill]

Peaceful demonstration in Trafalgar. 
 

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

This made me laugh. I have to question what Generation of Germans they were catering for.

 

 

 

[Rick]

12 minutes ago, rmgill said:

Peaceful demonstration in Trafalgar. 
 

 

What are the white flags with the red crosses for?

[Stuart Galbraith]

Rick, please tell me you are joking.

[rmgill]

3 hours ago, Rick said:

What are the white flags with the red crosses for?

*sigh*

St George's Cross. St George, Patron Saint of England, among other locales. 



It's a film but it points to the history and the Patron Saint of England. 
 

While we're on it, here's the St Andrews Cross (aka the Saltire), National Flag of Scotland.  Also representative of St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. 



Alabama's flag, a red and white version of above is meant as a nod to the Scottish St Andrew's Cross. 

And St Patrick's cross as a flag as well. St Patrick is of course the patron saint of Ireland. 




The Union Jack is a combination of the aspects of three older national flags of Scotland, England and Ireland. The red cross of St George for the Kingdom of England, the white saltire of St Andrew for the Kingdom of Scotland and the red saltire of St Patrick to represent Ireland.




Here endith the lesson in Vexillology. 
If you'd like to learn more, might I suggest this. 

Edited July 27, 2024 by rmgill

[Rick]

7 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Rick, please tell me you are joking.

No, not at all.