U.K. Politics: Nadine Dorries resigns her post as MP - or does she?

[bm08]

Oh dear! As if there isn't enough taxing our pocket books already

[KEY9481]

This country is about to implode.

The whole world tbh.
Modern society as we know it is no longer viable and we’re in for major changes if we want to survive.

[Artoo]

The whole world tbh.
Modern society as we know it is no longer viable and we’re in for major changes if we want to survive.

That’s a bold statement

[AceReject]

This thread is so depressing.

Apparently there’s a carbon dioxide shortage (of all things) too and it means we’re gonna have problems with fruit, veg, meat and general supplies etc. The Scotsman are even reporting that Irn Bru production is under threat LOL.

[Artoo]

This thread is so depressing.

Apparently there’s a carbon dioxide shortage (of all things) too and it means we’re gonna have problems with fruit, veg, meat and general supplies etc. The Scotsman are even reporting that Irn Bru production is under threat LOL.

I mean... the UK doesn’t do happy and cheery news. We just manage crisis after crisis

[bm08]

BBC: Joe Biden plays down chances of UK-US trade deal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58646017

Joe Biden has played down the chances of a post-Brexit free trade deal between the US and UK, as he held talks with Boris Johnson at the White House.

The US president said he would discuss the issue "a little bit" with the UK prime minister, adding: "We're going to have to work that through."

Downing Street said a direct deal with the US remained the "priority".

But UK ministers are pondering joining an existing North American trade pact instead, the BBC understands.

Mr Biden and Mr Johnson also discussed Northern Ireland, climate change and Afghanistan during the 90-minute meeting.

The UK is keen to strike free trade deals around the world in the wake of leaving the European Union's single market - including with the US, with which annual trade was worth an estimated $273bn (Ł200bn) in 2019.

A deal would encourage more business between the two countries by making it cheaper, usually by reducing or eliminating taxes called tariffs.

But Mr Johnson, echoing Mr Biden, downplayed chances of securing agreement with the US before the next general election, saying: "The Americans do negotiate very hard."

Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News: "We still very much hope to be able to put together an agreement with the United States. We are not putting timescales on it."

"It's just not a priority for the US administration," he added.

Mr Johnson highlighted the decision to lift the ban on British beef, and Downing Street is increasingly confident that there could soon be a favourable decision lifting the export ban on lamb.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office before the talks, Mr Biden said: "We're going to talk a little bit about trade today and we're going to have to work that through."

He did not counter the assertion from his predecessor Barack Obama that the UK would have to join "the back of the queue" in seeking a trade deal after Brexit.

[Thriller]

And now we are on the verge of petrol shortages due to supply issues due to the HGV problem…

[heppolo]

BBC: Joe Biden plays down chances of UK-US trade deal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58646017

Biden says get back to EU and beg for forgiveness

[Artoo]

So The Tories are now considering tax rises for graduates by lowering the threshold student loans are repaid. The average student debt is currently Ł45,000 (loans and tuition fee loans) and written off after 30 years - but currently isn’t payable until you earn Ł27,000 (at which point the 9% repayment tax kicks in).

They want to lower this to Ł23,000 - meaning graduates will be paying 42.25% tax on every penny earned over this amount (20% income tax, 13.25% National Insurance, 9% graduate tax). Then you have to add your pension pot percentage too.

According to news reports it’s part of Boris’ plan to stop people going to university and instead look for vocational qualifications - as if the huge debts aren’t already enough of an incentive.

Sickening. Access to higher education is a right and the fact a government is looking to quietly discouraging though taxation is outrageous. Basically someone has remembered young adults can’t afford to rent and are still living at home, thus having more ‘disposable’ income - and they wants a piece.

I’ve nothing against paying student loans back. But exactly how are young adults supposed to achieve independence and establish themselves financially?

[ludichris]

The tuition fees are far too high in the first place! I always thought something nearer to 5k annually would be some sort of middle ground but that probably isn't going to happen.

While increased taxation is incredibly necessary right now, we do have a major budget deficit to work on and it still needs to be worked on until 2023. I can't help but think there are better ways to achieve it.

Would it not make sense for some firms to offer academic apprenticeships to the most able pupils and eliminate debt entirely and get these young people into the world of work quicker?

[Artoo]

The tuition fees are far too high in the first place! I always thought something nearer to 5k annually would be some sort of middle ground but that probably isn't going to happen.

While increased taxation is incredibly necessary right now, we do have a major budget deficit to work on and it still needs to be worked on until 2023. I can't help but think there are better ways to achieve it.

Would it not make sense for some firms to offer academic apprenticeships to the most able pupils and eliminate debt entirely and get these young people into the world of work quicker?

I’ve nothing against a government trying to work their way through fixing a budget, but we still have major companies paying next to no tax.

Reducing the repayment threshold just feels counter productive as you’re putting off seeking higher education, yet looking to penalise those who will eventually be the ones most likely to pay the 40% income tax rate - so remove the 30 year cap and have them pay the full lot back rather than a smaller amounts right now?

Graduates already pay interest on their loans and now asking them for more money is a joke really. When they do eventually get themselves up to the 40% income tax rate, you’re talking a tax of 62.25% on every penny earned over Ł50,000 (though this is the current practise).

[Thombus]

Spent an hour trying to get petrol this morning. Still didn't get any. The country is just going tits up isn't it?

[heppolo]

It seems like UK is re-living the experience of the last days of Soviet Union. Maybe Theresa wasn't that bad after all

[Thriller]

I popped to Morrison’s at 8pm last night and luckily managed to drive straight onto the forecourt and fill up. Have heard of loads of empty stations though, it doesn’t seem to be letting up yet.

Regarding tuition, it’s disgusting that this government are planning to make university even more unobtainable! The Tories want the proles in their place, doing the dirty, low-paid or manual jobs, while the elite enjoy the prospects.

[KEY9481]

Oh Brexit, this wonderful thing.

[Wayne]

Oh Brexit, this wonderful thing.

Definitely makes a bad situation worse but aren’t most countries suffering high energy prices, driver shortages etc.

The difference is that other countries can possibly respond better (e.g. freedom of movement helps the EU with the driver shortage).

[Artoo]

Brexit was always going to create a staffing issue eventually but the pandemic hasn’t helped matters at all. British folk don’t want to do entry level manual work - just ask the farmers. But Boris got what he wanted so let him sort his own mess out. Maybe he can put that Ł350 million towards training some people.

[Wayne]

Totally, Brexit is the worst thing that has ever happened to the U.K. - but some of these issues are affecting most countries.

The nerve of our government to think that a temporary VISA solution for 5,000 drivers and 5,500 poultry workers will work and “help Boris save the Christmas dinner” is just unbelievable - after being told they weren’t wanted anymore by a pro-Brexit U.K., I wouldn’t be surprised if nobody took the government up on this offer.

[bm08]

The nerve of our government to think that a temporary VISA solution for 5,000 drivers and 5,500 poultry workers will work and “help Boris save the Christmas dinner” is just unbelievable - after being told they weren’t wanted anymore by a pro-Brexit U.K., I wouldn’t be surprised if nobody took the government up on this offer.

'Serve me my Christmas dinner then piss off!'

How insulting!

[Thriller]

Says it all about the audacity of our country to think we can just click our fingers and usher in cheap labour when we want it, then shoo them away when we're done with them.

Also, our obsession with Christmas is getting weird, it's like every year all hopes are pinned on making Christmas amazing and the salvation of our existence when in actual fact I find it bloody boring on the whole I'll live if I can't a turkey!

Boris seems completely deluded in assuming his government can train up all of the resources we need to keep ourselves ticking over without having to rely on immigration - British people don't want to do the "rubbish" jobs, so with Brexit we've made a complete rod for our own back. Everyone wanted the immigrants gone until they realised they were supplying our food and fuel.

[Artoo]

'Serve me my Christmas dinner then piss off!'

Standard Christmas for some families

[Wayne]

My energy company has gone bust (Igloo).

[Thriller]

My energy company has gone bust (Igloo).

Oh dear, what happens, do you get automatically transferred to a new provider by Ofgem?

[Wayne]

Oh dear, what happens, do you get automatically transferred to a new provider by Ofgem?

Yeah, this is what they said in their farewell message…

It is with great regret that we need to therefore inform you that Igloo Energy Supply Limited is ceasing to trade, and your energy supply will now be transferred to a new supplier. You need not worry; your supply is secure and funds that you have paid into you accounts will be protected if you are in credit. You can find out more details about this here.

[RayRay]

I wonder what people think these days who voted for Brexit...