Mailwatch(ed) Forum

Sad that the Mauritius deal hasn't been concluded, despite media reports suggesting a fair bit of effort was being put into it.

So Trump will be consulted, it seems. Will he actually care that much, despite what Farage has said? Mauritius isn't a "China ally" any more than a US ally, British ally or Indian ally. US military base in strategic location, what's the problem? Put some model ships on a map for Donnie.

One policy I hadn't noticed when it was announced was that Labour has purchased the gas storage facilities from the National Grid for £630m. I dimly recall something from Kwasi Kwarteng's time as Business Secretary about the government becoming involved in this, but I don't know if they were going to do this.

Seems like a sensible policy. Hope that the government now increases the capacity.

Anyone know what the waging war on pubs is all about?

The Weeping Angel wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 10:39 pm Anyone know what the waging war on pubs is all about?

There was a spoof/fake Farage video going round saying Labour were going to ban talking about something in pubs? Could be it?

Done some digging and it's about the employment bill something about protecting staff from harrasment by customers. According to them if a a member of staff finds a joke offensive you can be prosecuted or something.

You can't walk into a pub and say you're English any more. They'll arrest you and put you in prison.

While I get the whole "be a friend to the customers and provide a sounding board for them" attitude, and the entire concept of the pub regular, ultimately the job of bar staff is to provide the punters with drinks and food until they leave. Getting dragged into listening to a tirade about racism or sexism that you a) can't interject and tell the gobshite to shut up, or b) walk away from, is not part of the deal.

On a side note, I've been in a few pubs and bars which have had signs saying "No talk about [contentious issues] at the bar", and are generally regarded as the landlord/lady asserting their authority. This strikes me more as "No fucking barmaid's going to tell me to shut up", with the assumption of dominance over the staff.

The Weeping Angel wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:03 am Done some digging and it's about the employment bill something about protecting staff from harrasment by customers. According to them if a a member of staff finds a joke offensive you can be prosecuted or something.

Thanks for going there so I didn't have to.

I'd assume this is a 'workplace' thing rather than a specifically 'pub' thing? From a quick read it's under review, rather than enforced by Stasi shadows at every door right now?

You freedom to stroll in and yell "Oi Sambo give us a Stella" will be restricted.

You can see why Farage would loathe this. He’s already been forced to not give the peasants behind the bar lung cancer, he’s not allowed to call the barmaid “Love” and pat her on the arse, and now they’re threatening his much-worn anecdotes and gags about how he finds people of a swarthy disposition to be displeasing.

Or to put it another way, if your entire personality is bigoted cliches, when you can’t use them anymore people will very rapidly realise there’s nothing to you other than a gaping moral chasm and an endless grift.

He's the self-appointed King of Pubs, like Billy Bleach on The Fast Show, but I doubt he spotted this political angle. Harassment is going to be a fairly high bar, and mostly the obnoxious arse is just going to be kicked out by the manager, as has been the case since time immemorial. Perhaps now the manager will get a load of Freeman on the Land type objections.

Tubby Isaacs wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 1:40 pm He's the self-appointed King of Pubs, like Billy Bleach on The Fast Show, but I doubt he spotted this political angle. Harassment is going to be a fairly high bar, and mostly the obnoxious arse is just going to be kicked out by the manager, as has been the case since time immemorial. Perhaps now the manager will get a load of Freeman on the Land type objections.

Bouncer Vs Freeman of the Land: - Place bets now!

It used to be that a lot of door security firms employed Serbians and Bosnians for preference, and for obvious reasons. These days, apparently it's Syrians who are preferred, for broadly the same reasons*.

It would be fun to watch, I think.

*They don't drink, don't care who you are or what neighbourhood you come from, and are from a war zone.

We used to call that a direct approach.

RedSparrows wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 10:43 am I'd assume this is a 'workplace' thing rather than a specifically 'pub' thing? From a quick read it's under review, rather than enforced by Stasi shadows at every door right now?

Yeah it's part of the employment bill.

Andy McDandy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 4:52 pm It used to be that a lot of door security firms employed Serbians and Bosnians for preference, and for obvious reasons. These days, apparently it's Syrians who are preferred, for broadly the same reasons*.

It would be fun to watch, I think.

*They don't drink, don't care who you are or what neighbourhood you come from, and are from a war zone.

Which reminds me of the boxer (I think it was Dillian Whyte) who tried to intimidate his opponent by saying "I'm from the streets." To which the reply was a shrug and, "I'm from Syria."

Not good.

https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-ju ... rt-ruling/

The proposals would change the way the work capability assessment (WCA) functions, by reducing the weight attached to difficulties with mobility and getting around in considering applicants’ level of disability.

Responding to today’s verdict, a government spokesperson said: “The judge has found the previous government failed to adequately explain their proposals. As part of wider reforms that help people into work and ensure fiscal sustainability, the government will re-consult on the WCA descriptor changes, addressing the shortcomings in the previous consultation, in light of the judgment.

“The government intends to deliver the full level of savings in the public finances forecasts.”

Hostage to fortune here.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... ity-pledge

Labour pledges to make Sunday trains as reliable as weekday services

The current position is that lots of Sunday services rely on voluntary working, so trains get cancelled much more than in the week. As said by Norman Baker in the article, this is very hard to change at anything less than very large cost. I've got lots of time for Heidi Alexander but this seems to be a bit rash. Will she really have the budget to sort that?

The RMT are quoted and seem to have acquired a reputation as sticking it to the man among people who don't understand how rail franchises now work. The man (in the shape of private contractors) have a guaranteed percentage management fee, and extra costs are born by Muggins the Tax Payer. Though I respect the work the RMT have done with lower paid staff (in what was historically a poorly paid industry) but they and ASLEF do their share of silly stuff too. Rail has been a booming industry. It did well even under George Osborne. There are challenges now post Covid, with the fall in commuting (it's real, whatever the "people coming back to the office" stuff you read). They need to play their part in boosting the leisure market, and Sundays are a huge part of that.

Hopefully nationalization means better industrial relations. Given the RMT and ASLEF's history as Brexit goons, it might not take too much to undecut the support they've had.

Tubby Isaacs wrote: ↑Sat Jan 18, 2025 2:16 pm Hostage to fortune here.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... ity-pledge

Labour pledges to make Sunday trains as reliable as weekday services

The current position is that lots of Sunday services rely on voluntary working, so trains get cancelled much more than in the week. As said by Norman Baker in the article, this is very hard to change at anything less than very large cost. I've got lots of time for Heidi Alexander but this seems to be a bit rash. Will she really have the budget to sort that?

The RMT are quoted and seem to have acquired a reputation as sticking it to the man among people who don't understand how rail franchises now work. The man (in the shape of private contractors) have a guaranteed percentage management fee, and extra costs are born by Muggins the Tax Payer. Though I respect the work the RMT have done with lower paid staff (in what was historically a poorly paid industry) but they and ASLEF do their share of silly stuff too. Rail has been a booming industry. It did well even under George Osborne. There are challenges now post Covid, with the fall in commuting (it's real, whatever the "people coming back to the office" stuff you read). They need to play their part in boosting the leisure market, and Sundays are a huge part of that.

Hopefully nationalization means better industrial relations. Given the RMT and ASLEF's history as Brexit goons, it might not take too much to undecut the support they've had.

Correct me if things have changed.
When I used to train about a bit for University sport events and the like Sunday was a big day for diversions.
Usually attributed to maintenance projects.