Global politics

[Psy-Fi]

Russia begins nuclear drills in an apparent warning to West over Ukraine

Russia's military on Tuesday began drills involving tactical nuclear weapons that were announced by Russian authorities earlier this month in an apparent warning to senior Western officials who had spoken about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.

[jimmy jazz]

BREAKING: UK General Election set for July 4th.

@Lisnaholic what do you think mate?

@Marie Monday are you eligible to vote?

I think I will try to avoid too much coverage this time. I felt doom and gloom in 15, 17 and 19.

[Marie Monday]

I'm not eligible, only for the local ones

[jimmy jazz]

I'm not eligible, only for the local ones

Will think of you when I'm voting against the Tories then.

👍

[Psy-Fi]

Kosovo's parliament passes a bill on leasing some of its prison space for Denmark's use

[Psy-Fi]

Sunak's plan to make 18-year-olds do national service grabs attention on UK election trail

[jimmy jazz]

Sunak's plan to make 18-year-olds do national service grabs attention on UK election trail

Basically everyone supporting this will have been too young or not even born to have actually done National Service but want to see kids do it because they are spiteful, old cunts. Do as I say not as I do.

[Lisnaholic]

Thanks for asking my opinion, jimmy jazz

First up, I'd say it's a good decision to call an election now rather than drag speculation about an election date out for months.

Second, I suspect the recent Tory record (i.e. since and including David Cameron) has been so bad that Sunak's party doesn't stand a chance: it's just a question of how much they lose by.

Third, I think people will be voting Labour, mainly as a protest vote: they don't want Tories so they'll go with Starmer. I hope the voters are better informed than me, because tbh I don't know anything about the guy.

Finally, I think Britain has some deep-seated economic woes that nobody in politics really knows how to fix. I've been watching some depressing YouTube vids about economic downturn, abandoned High Streets, increasing poverty and NHS burden and other stuff: no easy solutions in sight, and most things made worse by Brexit.
____________________________________

Sunak's plan to make 18-year-olds do national service grabs attention on UK election trail

Basically everyone supporting this will have been too young or not even born to have actually done National Service but want to see kids do it because they are spiteful, old cunts. Do as I say not as I do.

^ A good, honest, forthright opinion, J-man ! I bet most people under, what, 30, will think the same.

I was really surprised to see this startling plan, which is going to be really unpopular. I can't pretend to tap into the thinking of young people in the UK, but I'm sure the idea of National Service is in totally the opposite direction.
I hope I'm not one of the spiteful people you mention, jimmy jazz, but there could be upsides to a scheme of this kind. Slight easing of unemployment, and the chance for people to get vocational training, for example.

Under the plan, a small minority of 18-year-olds — 30,000 out of an estimated 700,000 — would spend 12 months in the military, working in areas such as logistics or cyber defense. The rest would spend one weekend a month working for charities, community groups, or organizations such as hospitals, the police and the fire service.

Sunak said the program would help "create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country."

It remains unclear how it will be made compulsory. Home Secretary James Cleverly said no one would be forced to serve in the military.

People's gut reaction is to assume the worst, I think: compulsory square-bashing of the kind we see in American boot-camp movies, but it might not be like that. Here in Mexico there's a National Service requirement, that goes a bit like this:
Every male teenager goes to an interview in a recruitment centre and picks out a ball from a bingo-type machine: the lucky ones get white and are free to go, the guys who selected black have to do some light soldierly-type stuff on alternate Saturday afternoons. From what I've heard, most of the time is spent sweeping and painting - but that's the low-budget, low-tech, go-through-the-motions Mexican version. Sunak's idea sounds more serious, but it could also be more productive, but who cares: I don't think it'll ever happen. It's just going to damn the Tories even more in the eyes of the electorate. 








[/quote]

[jimmy jazz]

@Lisnaholic no you could never be one of the spiteful old farts.

In fact the country would be in a better place if the mature voters were more like you.

there could be upsides to a scheme of this kind.

In theory yes. In practice, no. Not with this lot and their track record.

[Lisnaholic]

^Thanks, jimmy jazz !

In theory yes. In practice, no. Not with this lot and their track record.

Yeah, you're right. To be of benefit, a scheme like that would need careful planning and thoughtful implementation - which the Tories have shown themselves to be incapable of.

[Psy-Fi]

France's Macron urges a green light for Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia

[Psy-Fi]

Former Thai PM Thaksin to face royal insult charges

[DJChameleon]

BREAKING: UK General Election set for July 4th.



I think I will try to avoid too much coverage this time. I felt doom and gloom in 15, 17 and 19.

What are the political parties in the UK?

I've seen you guys mention Tory and Labour. How are those two similar to Democrats and Republicans in the states?

Also is there more than two parties?

[jimmy jazz]

What are the political parties in the UK?

I've seen you guys mention Tory and Labour. How are those two similar to Democrats and Republicans in the states?

Also is there more than two parties?

The Tories are right wing. They'd be closest to the Republicans over there. But they obviously aren't the same. They're the party of the British elite, aristocracy, posh people etc. Social class is most linked to this party.

Labour are supposed to be left of centre, but many would argue there isn't much between Labour and Tory these days. They're supposed to be the party for the working class, for progressive politics and that sort of thing.

Liberal Democrats have historically been the third biggest party and are supposed to be centre/centre-left. Since 2010 they've declined a lot. They're known now for being very pro-European, obviously trying to win voters back since Brexit.

Scottish National Party - as the name says. Nationalist party in Scotland. Pretty much running things in Scotland but even their cult of followers is starting to see through them. I expect them to lose a load of seats at this election.

Reform - Basically an alternative right wing party post-Brexit. Nigel Farage started this one.

Green Party - left wing. Very focused on green politics (obviously), LGBT issues, cannabis legalisation, refugees etc. They only ever get one seat and that's in Brighton.

DUP - discussed these with you before, they are the biggest unionist party in Northern Ireland. Unionist in this context means keeping Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom.

Sinn Fein - Northern Irish nationalist party. Several of its members and politicians used to be in the IRA. They usually get about 5 seats but don't take them up in Westminster.

Plaid Cymru - Welsh nationalist party. Had a bit of momentum off the back of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum but you don't hear of them any more.

There are many other minor parties but these are the main ones and the only ones that you need to know. The only ones with a chance of actually winning are Tory and Labour.

[Lisnaholic]

^ That's a great description of the parties, jimmy jazz ! Thanks for reminding me of all the options and factions that exist in UK politics. May I just add a graphic that gives a quick idea of the relative size and importance of the different parties, as they were after the last election ?



(...and just in case it's unclear to anyone, "Tories" is the informal name for The Conservative Party )