Neither the Tories nor Labour are fit to rule as a majority government.

Absolutely. Basically, because both the Tories (as you would expect) and Labour (shamefully, under Tony Blair) decided to govern by money alone.

And good money people don't get elected to Government: they don't stand as MPs, because they're too busy making money. As a result, the privatised contract-wallahs can run rings round the government - any government - because they're on home territory and know how to rig the pitch.

And to prove the point, NHS overcharged by millions for key drug.

The amount the NHS paid per pack rose from around £4.46 in 2007 to £258.19 by July 2017, an increase of almost 6,000%.

Concordia said it did "not believe that competition law has been infringed".

Brexit? http://www.dw.com/en/britain-loses-seat-on-international-court-of-justice-for-first-time-ever/a-41460450

Brexit? http://www.dw.com/en/britain-loses-seat-on-international-court-of-justice-for-first-time-ever/a-41460450

No, that's a United Nations elected position, not (directly) anything to do with the EU or Brexit. Apparently, Lebanon lobbied very hard to get the Asian place, leaving India to muscle in on the European seat - or something like that.

No British judge on world court for first time in its 71-year history

But I wouldn't be surprised if our general incompetence over recent years had influenced electors thoughts towards 'time for someone new', quite apart from the examples in that Guardian article.

How can it be we survived for all these years without this key knowledge?
How can it be mankind survived for so long?
Why do we need all these scare stories all of a sudden?

Don’t eat food if a fly lands on it, as they carry more dangerous bacteria than previously thought, warn scientists

Most picnickers would brush away flies from food, thinking nothing of bugs briefly landing on their sandwiches.
But a new study suggests the insects carry far more dangerous bacteria than previously thought, meaning sandwiches are best avoided if they have been contaminated by flies.
Researchers at Penn State Eberly College of Science in the United States found that common houseflies carry salmonella, e-coli and even bacteria which lead to stomach ulcers and deadly sepsis.

Tsk.
Now you know why there's so much hunger in Africa: they throw out all the food because flies landed on it... These researchers definitely haven't walked the markets there, where flies land on all the foodstuffs before they're sold!

Question of the week: what do you do now when a fly lands on your hand? Chop it off? Burn it?

It's not the flies that are going to kill us, it's what the marketing companies conveniently left off the labels... the stupidity of anti-bacterial-ing everything stationary against everything not and making ourselves immune-deficient in the process. Nothing beats good old fashioned dirt followed by a wash and brushup. I think it's why things like gated communities had to be devised, to prevent mass extinction events amongst the anti-bacterial-wipe-addicts inside... possibly... ;)

Question of the week: what do you do now when a fly lands on your hand? Chop it off? Burn it?

Just don't lick it for a bit is what I reckon

You bring up a very valid point.

It's official - Britain has finally reached rock bottom (due to Brexit, recession, and anything else you care to mention).

So, as predicted 40 years ago, it's time for a Royal Proclamation.....

Coats Off for Britain (lyrics)

Coats off for Britain!
   says Her Majesty,
From the bottom of her 
   very gracious heart,
Trying to boost the nation
With a Royal Proclamation,
To encourage everyone to play his part.
While politicians palter
And the bills remain unpaid,
Her step will never falter
And her smile will never fade.
Dutifully doing
What she's born and bred to do,
Working hard from morn till late,
Receiving dreary Heads of State,
Arranging Royal Weddings
And a Royal Birth or two,
For me and you,
To pull us through.
And on the Royal Yacht Britannia
   they'll be singing then---

Congratulations to Megan and Harry - though a mixed-race American divorcee has resonance...

With the exception of Britannia, 'digging coal', and possibly 'property in Spain', I reckon the lyrics have lasted 40 years pretty well. As for Harry not getting any younger, they used up William to take our mind off the early stages of austerity in 2011: obviously they kept 'the spare' until needed. I just hope this means there won't be another crisis until young George is old enough to do his duty.

Do all American 12" vinyl pressings come with a 12-page booklet, with background, lyrics, commentary, and erudite footnotes explaining British slang terms? My British one just had one column of notes on the back cover of the sleeve - but then, I suppose we were all fully aware of the political situation without written aids. The lyrics aren't even in the song book of the same name.

Ah yes 12" LP's I remember them.

I remember that one particularly well. I don't know how I first came across Roy and Leon, but I heard they were putting on a gig at Bingley Arts Centre - probably soon after that one came out, so 1975 or 1976 - and I knew it would be worth going.

So I had to cycle back to Bradford afterwards with two LPs under my arm, and probably several pints inside me...

Ah yes 12" LP's I remember them. Every new young pop group that came out in the 60's had the sleeve notes written by Norrie Paramour, and their favourite was always steak, and their favourite drink was always milk. What clean living lads they all were to be sure :-)

Absolutely
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUHlxBZMiqw

It would help if the Government did some governing, instead of infighting.

It would help if the Government did some governing, instead of infighting.

C'mon Richard that ain't exactly fair is it , M.P's from All parties are having to make sure their arses are in the clear from the latest scandal that's surfaced and probably the next couple that are waiting to be broken ;-) . Coz sure as the sun will set and rise tomorrow there Will be more won't there .

Then fiddle No.2 is to "flip" properties every couple of years with the Tax man. You can declare which property is your main home and which is your second home. Once the London flat is all nicely decorated and modern appliances installed, you claim the London flat as your main home, and the Constituency house as your second necessary home. Then you can do up you real own home courtesy of the tax payer. Then a couple of years later you flip them back again. Oh and this is all on top of employing your wife as a secretary/personal assistant and family members as "researchers" and case workers. Only about 2 or 3 dozen do tall of this, but that is 3 dozen too many.

That's been going on for years and raises " it's head " once a decade or so , seam to remember a few years back about " Duck houses " and other stuff involving M.P's and properties they owed , can't remember exactly when it was the 90's or early naughies weren't it , mostly CONservatives but sure Labour and the Lib dems had a few to , ended up in a commite and some getting taken to court .
By the way I vote Conservative ( least you know they are going to screw you over ( unlike certain other parties that are " red " shall we say ;-) ))

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/28/world/asia/north-korea-missile-test.html

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This is getting a long way beyond a joke.

Trump account retweets anti-Muslim videos

This is getting a long way beyond a joke.

Trump account retweets anti-Muslim videos

His daddy was a member of KKK. He was born with a silver spoon. He was brought up as a racist. He can't change and he doesn't want to.

This is getting a long way beyond a joke.

Trump account retweets anti-Muslim videos

His daddy was a member of KKK. He was born with a silver spoon. He was brought up as a racist. He can't change and he doesn't want to.

I just hope that nobody tells Trump that the people of North Korea are Muslim. (they're not)

Executive summary: don't use it if you're cleared to hold state secrets on your computer.

If you've got a government that makes you "cleared to hold state secrets on your computer", your problems are a lot deeper than Kapersky!
Sheesh!

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