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 government just won the vote on the budget surplus by 62. It looks like some Labour MPs defied Corbyn and either abstained or voted with the government.

It was 21 Labour MPs that abstained against Corbyn's wishes.

LOL!!! What a circus.

To make iit worse, it was a three line whip.

Does that mean de-selection?

Don't you mean to make it better? Cornyn is finding out that what goes around, comes around.

Don't you mean to make it better? Cornyn is finding out that what goes around, comes around.

So what's happened to the 'Help thread' then?

In a few years time, I would think Labour will be happy to have voted the way they did last night.

Putting a pin in a getting a slow leak!

.

Another 37 Labour MPs didn't turn up to vote. 16 of them were on official business and the other 21 just stayed away. Corbyn originally threatened them with the sack and then backed down when they wouldn't give in.

Sounds a little like the likely vote by the con artists, when they come to vote on staying in the EU or not!

-=-=-=-=-=-=


But, I think every vote in government by an MP should be that of a vote "conscience" and not that a vote according to the hierarchy of a party, media, or donors to the party.

The vote should be based on the validity of facts and argument!

CORBYN
if the newspaper headline i saw this morning is correct - JC to upbraid the chinese president or whoever at a state banquet over china's lack of human rights, shows me that he has no idea (a) about decorum = time and place for everything and (b) having a proper sense of priorities

it's fine being a loose cannon as a backbencher, but absolutely not if you are to be taken seriously as a potential prime minister either by those at home or on the wider world stage

Yes,

I think he ought to learn to kowtow to his superiors!

That would improve the opinion of England throughout the world and that it can't be pushed around.

cynic

The story is that Corbyn is using the threat of trouble at the banquet as a lever to have a private meeting with the Chinese premier. That sort of a meeting would not be usual in a state visit.

I think the fallout from Corbyn attacking the Chinese at a state banquet would be massive. The Foreign Office, the Diplomatic Corps and senior civil servants would be after blood. It wouldn't go down well with the public as it would show the hospitality of the UK in a bad light as well as being an insult to the Queen. On balance I would like Corbyn to do it as he would be toast.

thanks hays ..... i think it was the indy headline that i saw quickly while walking past a newspaper stand

while china's human rights record may well be pretty bad - as it is in many countries - i would have thought it very strange for the leader of the opposition to be granted a private audience with another country's leader, especially as its primary purpose would presumably be to upbraid him in no uncertain manner

The human rights violations of countries are a problem. We have two choices. We can shout at them from a distance, impose sanctions, refuse to trade with them. This may work with counties that are on the small side and unstable. Here, we are talking about China which is a country that is oblivious to such tactics. We have chosen the alternative of engagement and trade. That route brings us closer to the country and we may have some influence longer term. It may or may not work, but shouting at China from a distance is a waste of time.

while we and others may regard some actions by certain countries as "human rights violations", their politest response would be along the lines of MYOB

thus, if someone in saudi makes alcohol and is then (i'ld guess) en route to supply others, do we really have a right to object if the punishment meted out is no less than would apply to one of that country's own?

similarly, trafficking drugs in thailand or singapore or other far eastern countries

Besides we need to sell more of London and other businesses to the Chinese, or Russians, or the Eskimos.

Goof capitalist principles.

Good for the UK and then we can all live in Austria.


Mind I don't mind if the buy the Thames valley.

Looked scruffy last time I was there!

And that tramp on the pavement with his hat in front of him was "just too much!"