RayC

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".

Likewise, there is no shortage of people on this board with conservative views, some of whom seem incapable of employing common sense and debating without resorting to insults (I am not directing this accusation at you personally).

"Putin will be able to observe the blackened remains of Russia as he emerges from his shelter and be able to say, "I had to destroy the country to save it from the West"." Does that make any more sense?

Hopefully, the investigation will get to the bottom of things. However, American Airlines have commented and - at the risk of pre-judging matters - imo the absence of a "We vigorously deny all allegations of racial discrimination, etc ..." speaks volumes.

Jusse Smollett? Are you suggesting that these men somehow staged this?

I am fully aware that this is a discussion forum as opposed to a legislative chamber. However, one reason for these discussion forums is to discuss policy (alternatives). I did not say that Israel 'owed' allies anything. I was pointing out that at a time when Israel needs all the support that it can get - imo Israel needs the EU more than the EU needs Israel - getting involved in a diplomatic tit-for-tat would not be the best course of action.

So a retaliatory "useless" gesture, which offers little, if any, practical benefit to Israel but which would potentially alienate traditional allies. A rational decision would be to be avoid doing so but rationality seems to be a dwindling resource in this conflict.

Tory supporters can justifiably point to mitigating circumstances - such as having to govern within a coalition for 4 years and having to manage a pandemic - however, 14 years is a long time to be in office and known issues with e.g. the NHS, the environment, social cohesion have certainly not been solved, and imo largely not been addressed in any meaningful way: The Tory party must be considered responsible and accountable for this lack of progress. I'm not sure what you mean with your reference to "Blairism" and (lack of) moderation?

Far from apples to apples. Payback for what? Can you explain how such a move would help any party (Israel, Palestine, Spain, Catalan or Basque separatists, the EU)?

For once I agree with you. Those ships are currently at sea. However, I imagine that they will return to port for their 'once in a generation' visits sometime in the next decade when, imo the EU vote will have a different outcome. We Eu-philes will just have to grin and bear it until then and hope that we survive that long. https://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/the-economy-forecast/brexit-analysis/#assumptions The "sunlit uplands" were promised by you Leavers. If they exist - imo highly unlikely - they must be hidden behind permanent low-cloud.

What's your point? The very same article states that the UK has underperformed "Italy (2.1%), Canada (3.5%), Japan (3%) and the US (6.1%)".

You do not need to submit any documentation to prove that you have been working abroad at this stage. Your first step is simply to submit the application form (CF83). You can either do this on line or by post. The section entitled 'What you’ll need' tells you, well, what you need in order to complete the form. If the DWP require any additional information/ documentation they will let you know.

Where is the evidence to support your contentions that the Allies planned for Alsace-Lorraine to revert to German control and other parts of France to be ceded to Italy? Whilst it is true that Roosevelt wanted AMGOT implemented in France, it was Eisenhower's opposition to the policy - with the aid of allies in Washington - which caused it to be dropped. Given De Gaulle's weak position, imo I doubt that his opposition was of any great import. To suggest that the US planned to "dismember" Russia overstates matters and presents only one side of the story. The following quote gives a more nuanced and imo, accurate description: "In 1991, two positions emerged in Washington. The first, embodied by US Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, saw the breakup of the Soviet Union as a historic opportunity for the West to free itself from the Russian threat. The other, backed by US Secretary of State Jim Baker, argued for caution, focusing on the risks involved in the disintegration of a superpower, especially a nuclear one. As is well known, the latter position was the one adopted by President George H.W. Bush." (Source: https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/expressions/after-fall-must-we-prepare-breakup-russia) Whether those suggesting that Putin is a new Empire builder are nationals of what you claim are hegemonist countries is irrelevant. It doesn't make the statement any less true.

This link outlines the process and what documentation you need https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-pay-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions-when-abroad-cf83

Imo the chances of any government unfreezing pensions in the next parliament is virtually zero, and the chances of it happening after that is very low.

Imo that scenario is extremely unlikely. There are 650 constituencies. There is a maximum of 50 where the Muslim vote will have any significant effect.

You got a hat-trick there. False premise, false argument and false conclusion. Your individual experience proves little. My experience, at roughly the same time, was almost the exact opposite. I was born and brought up in inner South London. Crime was rife; most of it was committed by locals who needed little instruction from immigrants in how to perform their "work".

On a national scale, the Muslim vote is pretty insignificant. There are only a handful of constituencies where Muslims are in the majority and relatively few where they are a significant minority.

The closest the UK got to having a socialist government was in 1945. The Blair/Brown administrations could only be classified as centre-left at most.