Election Year or Fear!

[Geoff Parkstone]

That last sentence is the crux of the matter - take it out of the hands of politicians. Let key politicians with relevant skillsets into the taskforce but have it chaired by someone independent and a core membership drawn from people who understand the issues (eg experts in medicine, procurement, finance etc).

Trouble is we'd have all been dead by the time the politicians had got round to creating this task force. Perhaps we should have a permanent core emergency response team created and on standby

[Geoff Parkstone]

As you may be aware the OED awards a word of the year each year "to reflect the past year's cultural zeitgeist". One of the nominees for 2025 is "Gimmigrant" - defined as a person who comes to a different country in order to reside there permanently, live for free and receive all benefitspaid by tax payers, but who has no intention of working or abdiding by the laws of said country.

Will you be votong for it? (actually I dont think there is a vote, just a panel decision)

I confess to never having used many of them but past winners include chav, selfie, credit-crunch, podcast and carbon-footprint which are now widespread. Less so recent winners rizz or goblin mode which are entirely unknown to em until today

[SithHappens]

See Farages mate been sentenced to over 10 years for taking bribes from the Russians

[SithHappens]

On Covid I wonder how our number of Covidiots compared with other countries.

Someone said to me during Covid that there were 2 main reasons for the spread of the virus.

Population Density and Population Density.

One of my best friends openly broke rules all the time and is convinced that it was all a master plan of the government to keep us indoors ( I mean why would they)

This despite knowing people who died of covid.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I had a wife like your mate Sith, thought she knew better, created her own rules which were, shall we say, non aligned despite having one immuni compromised person in the house as well

[swaledale]

So Trump pushes an unacceptable "peace" deal for Ukraine, which basically rewards Russia for its aggression and provides the US and more than likely Trump's cronies with opportunities to make money.

Its clear now that we have a unprincipled, mafia operator as a dictator in the White House, who sanctions illegal killings of unproven "Narcos", insults reporters asking legitimate questions and despite supposedly in favour of "free speech" shuts down those who criticise him.

Still good to see Jimmy Kimmell is unbowed, thought his "shut up Piggy" comment back to Trump was very good. But where the **** are the Democrats in pushing back this abuse of the constitution and power?

[swaledale]

I see despite Labour adopting the Denmark "model" on immigration, its back fired in Denmark where the party that promoted it, has lost Copenhagen Mayoral elections.

More to the point, analysis of that policy has shown it isn't effective and far from attracting voters who are right leaning, merely repulses voters whoa re centre left or left leaning. As Labour will find out if they proceed with these proposals.

Meanwhile the right wing press hardly mention Farage's mate who has just be jailed for accepting bribes to push Russian propaganda!!

[ramAnag]

I see despite Labour adopting the Denmark "model" on immigration, its back fired in Denmark where the party that promoted it, has lost Copenhagen Mayoral elections.

More to the point, analysis of that policy has shown it isn't effective and far from attracting voters who are right leaning, merely repulses voters whoa re centre left or left leaning. As Labour will find out if they proceed with these proposals.

Meanwhile the right wing press hardly mention Farage's mate who has just be jailed for accepting bribes to push Russian propaganda!!

Talking of the right wing press?I see DMGT (aka The Mail/Viscount Rothermere) are tabling a 500 million GBP bid to buy the Daily Telegraph. If anyone doubts the importance of media influence to the next election or undermining the current government look no further.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Talking of the right wing press?I see DMGT (aka The Mail/Viscount Rothermere) are tabling a 500 million GBP bid to buy the Daily Telegraph. If anyone doubts the importance of media influence to the next election or undermining the current government look no further.

A curious conclusion. The two publications share the same political leaning already, so howwould consolidating the make any difference to the alleged "undermining"

[Andy_Faber]

Talking of the right wing press?I see DMGT (aka The Mail/Viscount Rothermere) are tabling a 500 million GBP bid to buy the Daily Telegraph. If anyone doubts the importance of media influence to the next election or undermining the current government look no further.

Agree with GP on this, it?s just corporate consolidation for more highly geared returns. All recent analysis states that print (and its online equivalent press) has virtually no impact on voter sentiment, folk buy the rag that supports their prejudices, not one which will alter them.

[ramAnag]

A curious conclusion. The two publications share the same political leaning already, so howwould consolidating the make any difference to the alleged "undermining"

I see your point however, imo, the extension of a right wing press giant to create more domination of the UK media landscape is a bad thing and a danger to our democracy. One only has to look at the Telegraph’s role in the recent BBC affair to doubt AF’s querying of the significance of the printed/online media and if it’s of so little consequence why would Rothermere wish to spend so much on acquiring the Telegraph?

[Andy_Faber]

I see your point however, imo, the extension of a right wing press giant to create more domination of the UK media landscape is a bad thing and a danger to our democracy. One only has to look at the Telegraph’s role in the recent BBC affair to doubt AF’s querying of the significance of the printed/online media and if it’s of so little consequence why would Rothermere wish to spend so much on acquiring the Telegraph?

Surely you?re not suggesting a cessation of investigative journalism? That?s the only part of the Trump affair many (including me) have had with the Telegraph, the majority coming from TV

[ramAnag]

Surely you?re not suggesting a cessation of investigative journalism?

Obviously not. Although I am questioning a likely scenario where the majority of such investigation is conducted by those on the Right.
For instance, does anybody genuinely believe that the BBC’s wrongdoing in relation to Trump was more serious than Trump’s original transgressions in the immediate aftermath of his electoral defeat or his behaviour in relation to many others since?
If they do I’d suggest it’s further evidence of his domination of the U.S. media (official and social) and a warning for the UK not to progress any further down the same route.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I see your point however, imo, the extension of a right wing press giant to create more domination of the UK media landscape is a bad thing and a danger to our democracy. One only has to look at the Telegraph’s role in the recent BBC affair to doubt AF’s querying of the significance of the printed/online media and if it’s of so little consequence why would Rothermere wish to spend so much on acquiring the Telegraph?

I really can't believe you wrote that final sentence. Why would any business merge with another? Let's start with economies of scale and the saving of costs. Let's look at market share, especially in a declining circulation environment. Let's look at returns on capital - is 500m a lot if the Telegraph generates 50m profit (I don't know how profitable it is, or what return the Mail group is seeking).

There are countless sound economic reasons for a bid, and I'm sure Mail has had analysts all over the Telegraph to determine appropriate level of bid.

But in simple terms, it's what businesses do - merge for efficiency. It's why entrepreneurs start up - to get taken over and cash in. The fact that both share political similarities should make the culture fit, more so than eg Mail and Grauniad would. So to that extent journalistic leaning may be relevant - but I'd suggest enhancing economies of scale and financial returns could be the answer to your "why".

But feel free to trust in your own conspiracy theory

[swaledale]

A curious conclusion. The two publications share the same political leaning already, so howwould consolidating the make any difference to the alleged "undermining"

Its entirely possible to have a right wing view that is different from another right wing view, these things are never "black and white", though in this case you have a point.

In that a media organisation that peddles falsehoods and misinformation aimed at furthering a specific right wing agenda, is proposing to take over a once respected right leaning paper that has for the past few years leaned evermore into peddling inaccurate, misleading, propaganda, and focussed on "culture wars" rather than disseminate a reasoned critique and report actual news from a right wing perspective.