The state of the UK

[Svartalf]

I'd think that anticatholic protestant faith is, beyond that I can't really tell.

[Brian Peacock]

They're a mixed bag of conservatives generally, but that fervently Protestant edge has always been a feature of their leadership and their rhetoric.

[Svartalf]

And of course, really backward methodist style of protestants are generally a lot more noisy than your garden variety CoE protestants.

[L'Emmerdeur]

Nigel Farage may not be as popular in the US as he would like.

A spokesman for the company that booked Nigel Farage on a speaking tour for the US reports they have "miscalculated his popularity" after only 21 people turn up to the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott on Monday evening despite tickets being free.

- RS Archer · May 18, 2021

Small update - 14 people actually attended. The other 6 were part of the Farage group.

In unrelated news 2981 people registered for the event but I assume they must have had some trouble getting there.

- RS Archer · May 18, 2021

[Brian Peacock]

It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[JimC]

Not fascist enough for discerning US right-wingers...

[Scot Dutchy]

Is the UK heading for third world status or is there another definition required when first world countries take on third world social structures? Second world?

Number of billionaires in UK reached new record during Covid crisis

Despite year of economic turmoil, 24 people became billionaires in UK during pandemic, taking total to 171

Britain created a record number of billionaires during the coronavirus pandemic as wealth surged despite a year of economic turmoil, prompting calls for the government to increase taxes on the ultra-rich.

There are 171 billionaires in the UK, 24 more than a year ago, according to an annual ranking compiled by the Sunday Times. It was the highest number in the 33 years of the newspaper’s rich list, as the combined wealth of billionaires in Britain grew by more than one-fifth.

The richest person on the list is Sir Len Blavatnik, a Ukrainian-born businessman who made his money from energy and aluminium groups in the former Soviet Union. He previously topped the list in 2015.

[aufbahrung]

Wealth following Bedford's law means it is fairly distributed surely?

[Scot Dutchy]

Poor UK got zero points last night in the Eurovision Song Contest.

[Brian Peacock]

It's an outrage. I blame Jeremy Corbyn!

[Svartalf]

Looks like the UK is in a bad state, so, is it Mississippi or Alabama?

[Scot Dutchy]

Well...

[rainbow]

Poor UK got zero points last night in the Eurovision Song Contest.

I'd say that is a plus.

[JimC]

That contest seems to value weirdness over musical ability...

[Svartalf]

Poor UK got zero points last night in the Eurovision Song Contest.

I'd say that is a plus.

Not sure, given the general quality of the stuff showcased there, you have to wonder what somebody can have done to be deemed that horrible, even by those standards...