jayboy

Agreed but if Israel is always picked out - when other far worse abuses by other countries are ignored - one suspects antisemitism is at work.Also many antisemites use the cover of criticism of Israel to disguise their prejudice.

That is a lie.Farage has consistently stated that health cover should be free at the point of use, and has specifically exclude the US model.What he has supported is a transition to the European model where standards are much higher and with far better outcomes - for cancer and a wide raise of illnesses - than the NHS.As in France, Germany and Netherlands this certainly involves a partnership between the state and private sector, specifically insurance companies I'm not sure you are right to assume what the reaction of the electorate would be. The NHS is floundering and needs radical reform.Wes Streeting knows this.I'm also not sure that there is much resistance to a modest charge for GP visits and prescriptions, say 20 pounds or so.Those who are too poor should be exempted.

They said they were from CW but I'm sure they were just scamsters. But in any case even hypothetically I'm sure CW wouldn't get involved in checking sim card etc.I also wouldn't dream of phoning Immigration for even a valid reason. Also I don't need visa.

Good point. But I'm sure it's a scam. Just cant see the angle at the moment (probably because I put the phone down on them).

Why would immigration call about banking apps?

All in Thai

Over the last few days I have received a number of calls from different numbers.The callers all had my full name and obviously my phone number.The callers claimed to be officials and Chaeng Wattana was mentioned a few times.The suggestion was made in the first call I should meet next week.I'm not sure how the scam develops because I terminated and blocked the following calls very quickly.I didn't give the matter much thought - presumably a database has been hacked - but by chance I found that exactly the same thing has been happening to a couple of acquaintances. Has anybody else experienced anything like this recently? I wonder what the nature of this scam is.

He writes potboilers which sell well in the UK and elsewhere.But though a commercial success he's not much of a writer and has only superficial understanding of Thailand.I'm tired of being told by lachrymose middle aged expats who have been "taken" by some Isaan bar girl that it's really necessary to read Private Dancer.By all means read the wretched book but it won't prevent silly Westerners who have read it being taken for a financially draining ride. By the way Leather is something of a dick. See below. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/12/stephen-leather-cyberbullying-steve-mosby-jeremy-duns

Since I have purposefully avoided any personal accusations of antisemitism , I have no idea what you mean by throwing mud.Language is important and there is a long and painful history of antisemitism - some of the old tropes appear in this thread.You seem very exercised by the subject.That's not something I can help you with.

I don't understand your comment which is a bit muddled but as stated earlier it's relatively easy to recognize antisemitism.

I think it's relatively straight forward to recognize them even though they often camouflage their meaning to appease modern sensibilities, eg referring to Zionists when they simply mean most Jews.They know of course that most Jews whether resident or not are profoundly attached to Israel and its security. Jews have diverse views and there has always been a contrarian faction.Some have no religion at all and are only Jews in a cultural sense. That diversity doesn't save them when the Jew haters are on the march as in the Holocaust when millions of men, women and children were massacred. Actually in recent months after the Hamas murderous activity and the Israeli response, antisemitism has been less concerned at hiding itself as I saw for myself in London recently with demonstrators screaming antisemitic abuse and holding banners with vile racist slogans (which I will not repeat here). As to your question whether there are Jew haters on this forum, I'm not going to get into that.For anybody with historical, cultural and political insight the answer is very clear.

If Zionism means a belief that there should be a Jewish homeland where they can live unmolested and securely, then I am a Zionist. I am not Jewish, have no Jewish relatives, have never visited Israel and (sadly) have no Jewish friends.I also support Palestinian aspirations for their own state.But I can recognize an old fashioned Jew hater when I come across one - they always bang on about Zionism and never define what they mean by it.

Yes of course, and it is of course absurd to generalize in this way given the diversity in each nationality. However as we can see in this thread some people get strangely agitated when Jews are involved. Reference to this particular incident and the poor behavior a a few Israeli tourists is fair enough, but many of the comments here refer with contempt to 'the Israelis' as a national group.There is a name for this.

It's Stephen Leather and it's a lousy novel, quite irrelevant to this case.

I'm not sure what Islamophobia means. I can understand and agree that British Muslims should share the protection, rights and privileges of their fellow Britons.Antisemitism is a different category because it is based on racial prejudice rather than disrespect for Judaism as a religion. The Nazis murdered millions of Jews because they were Jews not because of their religion - in fact many had no religion.Christianity has no special protection in the UK and indeed is frequently criticized by people like Richard Dawkins.No blasphemy laws are needed.All religions should be equally respected and be subject to criticism.If criticism descends into an offense against public order, then the laws of the land apply.

I doubt if this person has read one word of what JK Rowling has to say on the subject.It's possible however that he simply doesn't understand. If I am wrong on either counts, could he provide a specific example of JKR's "anti transgender campaigning".

One aspect of this story is intriguing.How exactly did this person bring an action in the UK courts? In particular who was advising her? Given the size of the estate is rather modest and given the high legal (and travel) costs involved - and potential for having to pay other side's costs,why was it worth pursuing so relentlessly?

And thus my point is proved.

As usual on this forum, those who are so adamant on the disadvantages of PR tend to be those who don't meet the criteria for PR.

The charge would normally be the relevant NHS tariff plus 50%. As you suggest, nobody would be turned away for emergency treatment or from A and E, but you are wrong to suggest there would be no financial consequences.In any case it seems unlikely some Bangkok based expatriate would travel to UK to sort out emergency treatment, more likely something more serious requiring hospitalization.Highly unlikely in my view to evade payment. Of course some would get away with it, just as some people freeload at expensive restaurants and the do a runner before the bill arrives.But it doesn't seem a clever way for UK expatriates in the UK to plan their medical needs - particularly as in an emergency many would be too ill to travel.

The fact you have paid tax all of your life is irrelevant.Free access to the NHS has nothing to do with having paid tax.It is all about residency.

Except of course when they are Black Lives Matter.In that case the appropriate response from Keir Starmer is to get down on the knee.

Why? There are far better guides available and I can spot a snake oil salesman when I see one.

Sounds plausible but on scrutiny isn't really true.Bill Heinecke's Thai language capability is rudimentary (though in interviews he claims to be fluent.) He really isn't, and he's one of the smartest people around.

Easily for an expatriate corporate executive/successful entrepreneur. For the more typical expatriate arriving, I suggested Baht 200,000 per month.