The UK Discussion Thread

[jimmy jazz]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg19gx7vl4o

The Conservatives have called for the government to overrule planned changes which would make the ethnicity or faith of an offender a bigger factor when deciding whether to jail them.

Labour need to sort this quickly.

[Saulaac]

I've been reading up on old Viz comics. Favourites were Biffa Bacon, Finbar Saunders etc. They were an absolute laugh back in the 90s and 2000s. The accents and cultural references were very funny.

I think I'm going through a Biffa Bacon stage with my in-laws, as they beat me up whenever they can...

Jeez, they sail close to the wind by today's standards...

Are print copies still available in local newsagents today? JJ or TH any chance you could check next time you are in the local newsagents. Cheers.

For example: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/cartoon/2009/nov/07/1

[jimmy jazz]

I'm aware of it but have never read it myself.

I post on a football forum full of old farts (most are 50+ years old) and they rave about Viz.

Next time I'm in the shop I'll have a little look.

There was an app called the Viz Profanisaurus that was pretty good but they got rid of it a few years back.

[jimmy jazz]

Also speaking of sailing close to the wind...

This wasn't even that long ago really 😂

[Buck_Mulligan]

Look out Brits! The Yanks are coming!...

Record number of Americans applied for UK citizenship after Trump re-election

Record number of Brits 15,000, applied for an Irish Passport in 2024, in an attempt to bypass Brexit.

[jimmy jazz]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/travel/london-big-ben-palestine-protest-intl/index.html

If I had to imagine what someone who would do this would look and sound like, it would be pretty much this man here.

[Buck_Mulligan]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/travel/london-big-ben-palestine-protest-intl/index.html

If I had to imagine what someone who would do this would look and sound like, it would be pretty much this man here.

He looks about as Brit as they come...

[jimmy jazz]

He looks about as Brit as they come...

Yeah but nail polish, shit tattoos, no shoes, middle class accent, big, thick glasses.

[Buck_Mulligan]

Record number of Brits 15,000, applied for an Irish Passport in 2024, in an attempt to bypass Brexit.

I confused numbers and percentages...

15: Applications by Britons for Irish citizenship hit a post-Brexit high last year as a growing number of workers and pensioners tried to gain "backdoor" access into the EU. British applications to the Foreign Births Register, a citizenship route for people with Irish grandparents or parents, jumped 15% in 2024 to 23,456.

Separately, I read that a total of 130,000 Brits have applied for EU passports since Brexit. It would seem that a plurality, if not a majority were for Irish.

[jimmy jazz]

My cousin did it. She goes all over the world doing Irish dancing. She's done really well out of it.

I might do it when my current passport expires. Still got a while on it. Will you welcome me with open arms?

[Buck_Mulligan]

My cousin did it. She goes all over the world doing Irish dancing. She's done really well out of it.

I might do it when my current passport expires. Still got a while on it. Will you welcome me with open arms?

Can you not hold two passports simultaneously? Dunno about the open arms, I'm not that fond of Villa supporters, or for that matter the Brummie accent (ouch!). Might not want to be seen down the boozer with you.

[jimmy jazz]

Can you not hold two passports simultaneously? Dunno about the open arms, I'm not that fond of Villa supporters, or for that matter the Brummie accent (ouch!). Might not want to be seen down the boozer with you.

Yeah but I don't see the point while my current one is still valid. I may as well just wait until I have to renew.

You'd love to be seen down the boozer with me. I'm great fun and I'd buy you a beer or ten.

Who do you support?

[Buck_Mulligan]

Yeah but I don't see the point while my current one is still valid. I may as well just wait until I have to renew.

You'd love to be seen down the boozer with me. I'm great fun and I'd buy you a beer or ten.

Who do you support?

There's no downside, and several upsides to doing it now. In the event of any medical issues like a long NHS wait, you can go to any EU country and get the benefits offered to that country's citizens. You might have to establish residence but that's usually just a formality. Tell you what, why don't you FedEx me a case of the best Brit non-alcoholic beers?
Don't support anybody today. Lost touch in the US. Back in the day it was the Red Devils . I did belly up to the bar at 9.00 am today to watch Ireland get mauled by France.

[jimmy jazz]

There's no downside, and several upsides to doing it now. In the event of any medical issues like a long NHS wait, you can go to any EU country and get the benefits offered to that country's citizens. You might have to establish residence but that's usually just a formality. Tell you what, why don't you FedEx me a case of the best Brit non-alcoholic beers?
Don't support anybody today. Lost touch in the US. Back in the day it was the Red Devils . I did belly up to the bar at 9.00 am today to watch Ireland get mauled by France.

Cost is a downside. I have to register as a foreign birth which is about £200. As I'm not likely to go abroad now or within the next two years the £80 or so I'd spend doesn't need to be spent yet.

I don't actually know any good non-alcoholic UK beers tbh, I heard the 0% Guinness is good though.

[Buck_Mulligan]

The Guinness 0% is pretty good. I think I mentioned already there has been an explosion of 0% micro brews in the US, for the sober-curious.