The UK Discussion Thread

[Buck_Mulligan]

I agonized for weeks about what to name this thread. The Official Everything UK Thread, or the unofficial..., or the official unofficial...., or the unofficial official...Finally, at my wits end, I gave up and went with...The UK Discussion Thread.

I was pointed to the first link below by another blog I read daily, which (not for the first time) reprinted Tom Forth in full. Looking at the Tom Forth site it's clear that he writes a lot but not exclusively about Northern England and its relative poverty viz a vis the south. For those interested there's a lot on his site. His indexing of posts is a bit confusing. Seems he did it via tags and there is a lot of duplication under the "all my posts" button. 

I include the link to the blog that pointed me to Tom Forth, "Marginal Revolution" because there you'll find at least 60 comments on the post vs just two on the original post. The MR comments section tends to be quite informative, just a few trolls who are permitted but generally ignored.

https://tomforth.co.uk/whynorthenglandispoor/

https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/01/why-northern-england-is-poor.html

Separately, I see Brexit issues continue to bubble up. I'll bet that continues until it's reversed.

https://www.gbnews.com/politics/labour-brexit-jonathan-reynolds-maros-sefcovic

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/benefits-brexit-uk-about-to-3499800

[Buck_Mulligan]

Here's the longer version of the link above. It contains all of the first link so you have to scroll to get to the new stuff.
Interesting graphics and links, plus 20 new comments.

https://tomforth.co.uk/whynorthenglandispoor/

[jimmy jazz]

Although he did apologise, the writer of the article predictably ignores the existence of the Midlands.

[Buck_Mulligan]

Although he did apologise, the writer of the article predictably ignores the existence of the Midlands.

I don't know what you mean by "predictably" in this context, but it seems like it might be a good opportunity for you to let fly with your observations on the Midlands.

[jimmy jazz]

I don't know what you mean by "predictably" in this context, but it seems like it might be a good opportunity for you to let fly with your observations on the Midlands.

The Midlands is always lumped in with the North.

You can find that people in the Midlands are just as frustrated.

Can you read this? https://www.economist.com/blighty/2013/05/31/how-to-kill-a-city

[Buck_Mulligan]

^^^ Can't read it, but I've been to Brum. Have driven the length of the M6 many times, though not recently.

[jimmy jazz]

^^^ Can't read it, but I've been to Brum. Have driven the length of the M6 many times, though not recently.

Fuck. I'll try to find it and post it if I can.

[Saulaac]

The Midlands is always lumped in with the North.

You can find that people in the Midlands are just as frustrated.

Can you read this? https://www.economist.com/blighty/2013/05/31/how-to-kill-a-city

That is a good point. I dunno why Birmingham was always considered a long way from other places. I mean it's only about an hour and a half away from London on the M40 so not exactly far.

What's the latest on the new high speed HS2 train line, JJ? They've spent enough money on the consultation stages. Do you think this important line will go ahead?

I always remember in the 80s when we lived in Macclesfield and drove to Coventry to see our grandparents, we would go past the behemoth of the Dunlop factory. I can't remember if that was the M6 or the M60.

[Marie Monday]

[jimmy jazz]

That is a good point. I dunno why Birmingham was always considered a long way from other places. I mean it's only about an hour and a half away from London on the M40 so not exactly far.

I think London is a big part of it. If you ask Londoners many of them will say anywhere north of Watford is the North.

What's the latest on the new high speed HS2 train line, JJ? They've spent enough money on the consultation stages. Do you think this important line will go ahead?

I always remember in the 80s when we lived in Macclesfield and drove to Coventry to see our grandparents, we would go past the behemoth of the Dunlop factory. I can't remember if that was the M6 or the M60.

You're on about London to Brum or something else? That one is going ahead. The last I knew, Birmingham to Manchester was cancelled. After that I don't know mate.

[jimmy jazz]

https://x.com/PolitlcsUK/status/1884511830640324966?t=iysk7AmJzfhSu0XdeIaZmg&s=19

Not really sure what to make of this. Not even sure I'm surprised.

[Guybrush]

Something I'm wondering is.. Now that it's been a while, how do brits feel about brexit?

[Trollheart]

For a country that has such a woeful history of getting it wrong, miscarriages of justice and just plain fit-ups to suit the police/government, I'd hold off on bringing the rope back just yet.

#CantApologise2TheDead

[jimmy jazz]

Something I'm wondering is.. Now that it's been a while, how do brits feel about brexit?

No change. Too much of a political football. People support their side and don't budge.

If you voted for it you support it still. If you didn't, you don't.

Maybe a very small amount of people who voted for it at the time would undo it now, but I've rarely encountered them.

[Buck_Mulligan]

No change. Too much of a political football. People support their side and don't budge.

If you voted for it you support it still. If you didn't, you don't.

Maybe a very small amount of people who voted for it at the time would undo it now, but I've rarely encountered them.

According to this August 2024 poll by YouGov 59/41 favored reversal. I suspect that over time those numbers will diverge further.

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-poll-vote-rejoin-eu-brexit-new-referendum-pm-keir-starmer/