RayC

No one could suggest that you are holding back on this one. Talking of double standards, I don't recall you offering any condemnation of Mr. Hester at that time. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68542624

Well said.

That is presumptive and arrogant. You have no way of knowing how much information other posters may have. If you start with the premise that 'might is right', then just about anything can be justified. I assumed that we were discussing the more specific reasons and justification for the invasion. I prefer the idiom 'two wrongs don't make a right' to 'what's good for the goose ...'

Or perhaps the FT has been reporting with honesty and openness all along.

Perhaps it does but repeating myself, there is one man to blame if this happens. There is no evidence to suggest - or reason to believe - that a Russian defeat would encourage the West to threaten China militarily. I don't understand what point you are trying to make.

Unfortunately, the information contained in your links may well be correct. It might also be the unfortunate case that the conflict escalates. However, none of that alters the fact that this war is of Putin's making not the West's.

You're on form today, Nauseus😁👍

Unfortunately, Farage never went away😭 On a serious note, I look forward to hearing Farage defend Reform's economic policies. By comparison, Truss' budget appears rational.

Yep, no rush. We all meet the same fate i.e. we are all dead in the long run. (I'm feeling especially cheerful today😉)

The senility part is open to debate. If one can conclude anything from that gibberish, surely it is the exact opposite? "I am NOT prepared to support NATOization of Ukraine" Or maybe it simply means that Biden believes Russia should respect the internationally agreed borders of Ukraine and that peace is not possible until she does. How does this constitute proof that ".. the whole purpose of this operation is, to degrade Russia's military"? (The only operation is the special military one being waged by Putin Which has no relevance to this topic.

... or a fourth or fifth ..... A thought occurs. See what you think. Is it at all possible that there might not be any way to implement Brexit correctly and reap all the benefits because ... well .... Brexit was a bad idea and those benefits don't actually exist? Maybe you can put my mind at rest by explaining what the government should do to make Brexit a success? Thanks.

This amounts to saying no more than saying, "My information is better than yours" which, in absence of proof, is in itself a demonstration of bias and prejudice. Putin's raison d'être for the 'Special Military Operation' is to 1) cleanse Ukraine of its' Nazis 2) demilitarise Ukraine. Although Nazis are small in numbers, unfortunately they (probably) exist in every country. Should we therefore accept this as a justification for an invasion? In a similar vein, whilst Russia might have reasons to be concerned about any increase in Ukraine's military capabilities, does this give her the right to invade and demilitarise her neighbour? The correct answer to both questions is 'No'. It really is as simple as that irrespective of where you source your data.

Where is the evidence to suggest that it will be any different next time?

You're right. It is not a fact. Craig Evans, an agricultural worker, was part of a demonstration protesting against Labour's rural policies organised by the Countryside Alliance - an association with conservative views - when he threw an egg at the Labour MP, John Prescott. Question: Based on this information, in your opinion do you think it most likely that Mr. Evans was, at that time, a) apolitical b) a Labour supporter c) a centralist {Note: the LibDems agreed with many of Labour's rural policies} d) a Conservative supporter.

Facts: 1) Not all "lefties" think this behaviour acceptable as you imply. My politics are left-of-centre but I do not condone this behaviour and I doubt that I am alone 2) It was a milkshake not acid 3) "Lefties" do not have a monopoly on this sort of behaviour. Remember the right winger who threw an egg at Prescott? That could have been a grenade (but, of course, it wasn't). "Leftists can be very unhinged" Whereas all right-wingers are balanced and rational😂

There are elections this week for the European Parliament. The candidates standing span the spectrum from far-left to far-right. The UK will hold a general election in early July. Again the candidates standing will encompass a broad political spectrum. In both cases, the individual voter will be free to cast their vote as they please. Ursula Von Den Leyden is seeking a second term as President of the European Commission. In order to do so, she has to secure the backing of the elected leaders of the EU member states and have her nomination appointed by the elected members of the European Parliament. These systems may have their faults but they are democratic. Fascism would not allow such systems to exist.

Rome may not have been built in a day but I'd hazard a guess that - unlike Brexiter politicians - the Roman Consuls and Senate had an idea of what they were trying to do and how to achieve it. The much touted FTAs with the US and China are no closer to fruition than they were in 2015. Any FTA with India will, most likely, be no better than the one which the EU will agree and, quite possibly, be worse. Patience is a virtue but is an indication that there might be something worth waiting for too much to ask?

I agree with your sentiments. Interesting article about Hitler's "faith". https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/hitlers-religion-was-hitler-an-atheist-christian-or-something-else/

I'm not sure why Russia feels the need to spread false information to discredit the IOC. There are enough facts currently available to complete that particular task.

You're right. The survey clearly suggests that there is no appetite for another EU referendum now. However, the same survey also clearly shows that the overwhelming majority of people think that Brexit has been handled badly, has been of no benefit to the country, was a mistake and would vote to rejoin the EU if there were a referendum.

The article also states that many other EU states e.g. Greece, Ireland, Spain are are outperforming the UK so what would you conclude from that? The article says little about France, other than it is experiencing social unrest. How can you draw any conclusions about the EU from that? The article concentrates on Germany and suggests that it's current relative economic underperformance is due to a) the structure of the German economy b) fiscal policy and c) monetary policy. Industrial and fiscal policy are clearly the direct responsibility of the German government and not Brussels. While monetary policy is dictated by the ECB, the UK was not part of the Eurozone when we were members of the EU, so in that regard how has leaving benefitted us? Given the above, where is the justification for your implication that the UK has benefitted economically from leaving the EU? In what ways has the UK not being part of the EU Single Market or Customs Union improved the UK's economic performance? I have posted numerous links to various reports on numerous occasions suggesting that the opposite is true i.e. that being outside the Single Market and Customs Union has been detrimental to the UK economy. This Telegraph article is an interesting opinion piece but does not support your contention that the UK is economically better off outside of the EU.

I've no idea how you can suggest that a Starmer led government will be of the 'loony left' from what they currently said https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/10-labour-policies-to-change-brita in/ A liability in places but some of the electorate seems to like her. Suella Braverman A sad and pathetic comment

Although I disagree with most of your premises I have, generally speaking, thought that you have raised some interesting points and, by and large, offered a coherent argument in support of your point of view. Sadly, that no longer seems to be the case.

I don''t support many of Abbott's causes and think that she is too gaff-prone to be an effective frontline politician. However, I do think that she has a point about Starmer 'culling' the Labour Party of left-wingers. Since his election as leader, Starmer has tried to remake the party in his image. It leaves me with the impression that "broad church" only extends to worshipping in the 'Temple of Keir"

In the words of Mr. McEnroe: "You cannot be serious?" Mass destruction and loss of life affecting +/-10% of the world's population. Huge economic, environmental and societal damage which would take decades to repair (assuming that repair might even be possible). Yep, there's a lot to recommend nuclear war from a "humanities viewpoint".