Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

The left must put Britain's EU withdrawal on the agenda

Owen Jones

Wednesday 15 July 2015 08.04 BST



Progressives should be appalled by European Union’s ruination of Greece. It’s time to reclaim the Eurosceptic cause


David Cameron with Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel. ‘An anti-EU campaign could help the left reconnect with working-class communities it lost touch with long ago.’ Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters



At first, only a few dipped their toes in the water; then others, hesitantly, followed their lead, all the time looking at each other for reassurance. As austerity-ravaged Greece was placed under what Yanis Varoufakis terms a “postmodern occupation”, its sovereignty overturned and compelled to implement more of the policies that have achieved nothing but economic ruin, Britain’s left is turning against the European Union, and fast.

“Everything good about the EU is in retreat; everything bad is on the rampage,” writes George Monbiot, explaining his about-turn. “All my life I’ve been pro-Europe,” says Caitlin Moran, “but seeing how Germany is treating Greece, I am finding it increasingly distasteful.” Nick Cohen believes the EU is being portrayed “with some truth, as a cruel, fanatical and stupid institution”. “How can the left support what is being done?” asks Suzanne Moore. “The European ‘Union’. Not in my name.” There are senior Labour figures in Westminster and Holyrood privately moving to an “out” position too.



More with links here:http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/14/left-reject-eu-greece-eurosceptic?CMP=share_btn_tw

The EU and the Euro was a flawed project from the very outset.

There is more chance of us voting out than many think ,don't go by the polls look how wrong they were with the general election .

There is some nice shiny new anti strike legislation on the way.

It is being introduced to parliament today. It will require 50% turnout and a 4 month time limit per ballot. Some strikes were relying on a ballot made two years earlier to have a strike. Picketing will be illegal as well.

The unions and Labour are whining about it as per usual. It is strange that Labour has never repealed any strike legislation that was introduced by previous sensible Conservative governments.

yes they must get 80% yet the gov got 33% no one should be elected as a mp unless they get over 51% of votes and voters should vote for 3 in the order of preference
and the vote should be on a computer in the town hall its instant and does not need hundreds of people seating down all day .then the public can see the votes on line instant

hays you have not posted , that they must give two weeks notice so the companies can employ strike breaks with migrants to beat them
it stinks and is corrupt and I am a right wing conservative
Cameron the liar

the conservatives got in to power down to one person. sturgeon rest assured of that
sturgeon was the best campaigner of the conservative party .
and it will turn Scotsman against is own in the end .
she is the daughter of devil vile the devil must love her the most evil woman on the planet

part of me agrees with you hilary, but it strikes me that there are some "fat cats" in greece who make our bankers and similar look positively biafran, and they seem to be totally and utterly unaffected

though greece could indeed be "cut loose" as many would advocate, i can see all sorts of reasons why this would not be a sensible option, and thus "europe+imf+ecb" have very much got a tiger by the tail

And a Minger too...

The fish is prettier ...

I make it 20% of the workforce need to vote to strike..hardly onerous.

Same hairdresser as Rab C Nesbitr's wife. It is funny how when you search for Rab C Nesbitt's wife on Google images you get Sturgeon as well

Ha Ha that's hilarious .

MaxK - 15 Jul 2015 11:32 - 61479 of 61482
I make it 20% of the workforce need to vote to strike..hardly onerous.

No. It is not 40% of 50%.

It is 50% turnout for all strikes and a minimum of 40% of ALL those entitled to vote, voting in favour of the strike if it involves public sector strikes such as health, education etc.

If there were 100 members of the union then 50 must vote with a simple majority of those. At least 26 in favour.

If it was public sector and 100 members of the union then 50 must vote and 40 must vote to strike instead of 26 as would be needed in a simple majority of voters.

Prefer Sturgeon to Osborne!

Or perhaps Hay's mother!

GREECE - a very sobering comment
Tonight's Greek parliamentary vote remains the biggest event risk for financial markets, with the very real possibility that the resolution found between creditors and Syriza could be all for nothing if it fails to find approval with politicians in Athens. The Greek crisis is certainly not over yet. We’re only at the start of several national votes which potentially could derail the bailout. Beyond this, the IMF's criticism of the plan highlights the concern that, without any form of guarantee of debt sustainability, the deal would just be a sticking plaster on a debt wound that would continue to grow.

There is another problem. The IMF thinks that Greece's debt will rise to in excess of 200% of GDP and that without a 30 year repayment holiday, they can't repay the debt. The IMF rules forbid them from lending money to countries that cannot repay it. Part of the deal agreed on Sunday involves the IMF lenging substantial sums to Greece.