JAG

A pretty good diversion on your own part!

I certainly don't want to see The United Kingdom become a rogue fascist state. There is a very strong deep seated feeling that the population are very unhappy at the massive level of illegal migration, are very unhappy at the way these migrants are being treated (generously) compared to the least fortunate in our society, and a strong body of opinion which wishes for them to be returned. Now that feeling is being expressed in some rather ugly and ( to me at least) distasteful, inarticulate and unsavoury demonstrations, but it certainly needs to be assessed and answered, and not by perjorative political labelling. As a "sub point" I would also like the United Kingdom to be a state where the police force policed both sides of such demonstrations with equal vigour and or restraint, where the laws were applied equally across the board; and where people weren't arrested for ludicrous reasons like saying that they liked bacon! I too have very strong reservations about Farage, but this present shower, for some inexplicable reason (perhaps incompetence) seems hell bent on helping him into power!

I know, not really my point but I am glad it amused you!

Neither of whom used the electric chair. The British favoured hanging ( after a trial), the Russians were less formal, and usually favoured a pistol shot to the back of the head.

Of one thing I think there can be no doubt, Mandelson would not have been remotely interested in young girls!

And shot himself in a bunker in Berlin as the empire he "conquered" disintegrated around him after 5 years. Not really a record to be admired perhaps.

He did have a somewhat dubious relationship with his niece...

I think you have rather made it for me, thank you.

OK, point taken, although I find it hard to believe that the subsequent release on grounds of clemency was not, umh, authorised.

I don't really think that you understand the meaning of smarmy. Moreover you are the one who gratuitously introduced anal rape of prisoners, (with butter as a lubricant), into the discussion, are you not? And then expanded the discussion to encompass name calling!

Besides he was "monotesticular" - when the Epstein files are ( inevitably) released or leaked we will no doubt be able to consult testimony that in the fragrant Donnie's case that is not so...

Something was agreed, otherwise he would not have returned! And don't forget he was released on pardon. Someone very high up indeed may not take particularly kindly to that pardon being effectively cancelled.

Not particularly, I don't get triggered by that sort of thing. Just consider it as a cynical reaction to what is I suppose an inevitable and rather pathetic enthusiasm. In fact I am mildly surprised that it took 24 hours to surface! As someone interested in classic cinema I appreciate the Marlon Brando allusion - "Last Tango in Klong Prem" ?

It might be "proposed" as a means of reducing prison overcrowding? Initial trials to start for elderly male prisoners, with suitable secure homes, in the next couple of weeks...

Didn't take long for the jail rape aficionados to turn up did it?

I rather imagine, as you describe for a few weeks followed by home detention.

The "confirmed bachelor" Mandelson never could keep his mouth shut!

Umh, aren't the majority of the countries of origin of these "asylum seeking young men" countries where it is virtually impossible to get a visa to enter the UK anyway? I mean, that is why they are coming here illegally anyway!

Demonstrating his seriousness or gleefully savouring watching Thaksin get his comeuppance?

? I'm sorry, I really don't get your point!

There has been some burbling on Facebook about some sort of adjustment payments for certain age categories of people on UK pensions. I must confess that I took no notice, assuming that as a fairly recent recipient, and of course with a frozen pension, I would not be involved! Maybe that is it?

I really do not want to decry your experience of the Thai Prison system, which I am sure was comprehensively awful, but does it really equip you to describe the conditions under which a main of Thaksin's wealth, status and influence will be kept? Presumably you were a member of the "general prison population" and not free to roam the place observing every aspect of it's "facilities"?

I suspect so. He is going to effectively be out of circulation for a year. Whatever conditions he serves his sentence in, in jail or perhaps in due course under "home arrest" he will be incommunicado for that year.

1) He put an end to the non enforcement of bar closing times. 2) By allowing the common people at least the illusion that they had some say in running the country, he rocked the establishment, with whom many long time expats rather identified.

The Falklands Islands have their own Government. Cyprus: the two UK bases are UK sovereign territory but governed by treaty with the Cyprus government - UK service personnel, their families and certain categories of civilian employees are allowed to live on the bases, but not anyone else. Ascension Island is a large rock, which accommodates a US Air Force base.