The state of the UK

[Hermit]

Oops. Sorry about that.

[aufbahrung]

Communism left as many dead as fascism. Would new Scotland be communist?

[pErvinalia]

Please don't dox other members.

If he's sockpuppetting, he deserves it. He's deceiving us.

[pErvinalia]

Communism left as many dead as fascism. Would new Scotland be communist?

I see you are making about as much sense as usual.

[Hermit]

Communism left as many dead as fascism. Would new Scotland be communist?

No. It would be a social democracy. Think 1960s style "nordic countries".

[aufbahrung]

Not sock, moving on from being bad to the bone, towards a higher purpose. What that purpose is? You must know these are unusual times and they require unusual intellects. Almighty death defeated.

[Hermit]

Not sock, moving on from being bad to the bone, towards a higher purpose. What that purpose is? You must know these are unusual times and they require unusual intellects. Almighty death defeated.

You have an unusual intellect indeed. It has become increasingly unusual over the years.

[Brian Peacock]

Communism left as many dead as fascism. Would new Scotland be communist?

I very, very much doubt it. The SNP, who've held the balance of power in the Scottish Parliament since devolution, are a hotch-potch of views and perspectives from hardline 'Scotland for the Scottish' nationalists to oil-loving corporatists who'd love to pay even less tax. The one thing SNP members have in common is that they don't like being ruled from London, but along with donations from the usual suspects and a pretty inconsequential record in office the worst you can say about the SNP is that it leans rightish and looks leftish. The number of Russian, American, Chinese, and Middle-Eastern millionaires who've bought lairdships in the last decade or so suggest that business thinks Scotland is a pretty safe bet.

[rainbow]

Nicola Sturgeon has said Donald Trump will face “due accountability” in Scotland if evidence emerges that his Scottish golf courses have been used for money laundering and fraud.

The first minister said she will not protect the “soon to be former president of the United States” from investigation by Scottish authorities if evidence of malpractice emerges when he becomes a private citizen.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stur ... -jd0z6x0fw

[Scot Dutchy]

More chumocracy;

Hancock's former neighbour won Covid test kit work after WhatsApp message

Alex Bourne’s company producing millions of Covid vials despite no prior experience in medical supplies

An acquaintance and former neighbour of Matt Hancock is supplying the government with tens of millions of vials for NHS Covid-19 tests despite having had no previous experience of producing medical supplies.

Alex Bourne, who used to run a pub close to Hancock’s former constituency home in Suffolk, said he initially offered his services to the UK health secretary several months ago by sending him a personal WhatsApp message.

Bourne’s company, Hinpack, was at that time producing plastic cups and takeaway boxes for the catering industry. It is now supplying about 2m medical grade vials a week to the government via a distributor contracted by the NHS.

Bourne categorically denies he profited from his personal contact with Hancock. However, the case raises questions for the health secretary and is likely to reignite the row over alleged government cronyism during the pandemic.

Contacted last week by the Guardian, Bourne’s lawyers flatly denied that their client had any discussions with Hancock in relation to Covid-19 supplies.

However, on Monday, after being confronted with further details about his interactions with the health secretary, Bourne backtracked. In a phone call with the Guardian, he conceded that he has in fact exchanged text and email messages with Hancock over several months.

He also participated in an industry Zoom meeting in August attended by Hancock, Boris Johnson and several dozen suppliers in the Covid test-and-trace programme.

The question is how many brown envelopes did Hancock receive?

[Brian Peacock]

The govt are acting like a mafia crime family atm. The media seem wholly unconcerned.

[Scot Dutchy]

More corruption and nothing happens.

Huge wealth of Rishi Sunak's family not declared in ministerial register

Exclusive: Akshata Murty, Sunak’s wife, holds multimillion-pound portfolio making her richer than the Queen


The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is facing questions over the transparency of his financial affairs after a Guardian investigation established that his wife and her family hold a multimillion-pound portfolio of shareholdings and directorships that are not declared in the official register of ministers’ interests.

Akshata Murty, who married Sunak in 2009, is the daughter of one of India’s most successful entrepreneurs. Her father co-founded the technology giant Infosys, and her shares in the company are worth £430m, making her one of the wealthiest women in Britain, with a fortune larger than the Queen’s.

[laklak]

A dox on all your houses!

[Scot Dutchy]

Is there anyone in charge?

Shops to be allowed trade around clock to recoup Covid losses, says Jenrick

Communities secretary says shops can open for up to 24 hours a day in December and January

Shops will be given permission to trade around the clock as the high street tries to recoup some of the losses it has suffered during the pandemic, a cabinet minister has said.

Retailers normally have to go through a lengthy process to apply to local authorities under the Town and Country Planning Act if they wish to extend hours outside the window of 9am to 7pm.

But the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, said he wanted to remove the bureaucracy to encourage greater trade – allowing shops to open for up to 24 hours a day in December and January.

JFCOAPS What about Corona? Staff? Transport? This is pure lunacy.

[rainbow]

JFCOAPS What about Corona? Staff? Transport? This is pure lunacy.

They will wear their masks, wash their hands and wipe their bums.

You couldn't get the Dutch to do this, of course.