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News & politics

Anyone have good news to share about the U.K.? ??

(341 Posts)
Urmstongran Sun 14-Jul-19 13:13:10

Instead of gloom and doom (plenty about) how about we lift our spirits with any good news we hear to cheer us up?
?

As in today:
“THE Wall Street banking giant JP ­Morgan is about to embark on a major hiring spree in the City, despite Jamie Dimon, the chief executive, previously warning about Brexit job losses.

The growth plans stand in contrast to repeated warnings made by the bank’s boss about the effect Brexit could have on UK staff numbers”

Chewbacca Sun 21-Jul-19 23:23:07

This: www.livescience.com/65972-conjoined-twins-head-separated-london.html

is "in the news, happened in the UK and is uplifting" and so ticks all the boxes. 2 little girls, Safa and Marwa, born as conjoined twins in a remote area of Pakistan. They had no chance of survival if they'd remained in Pakistan and so were brought to GOSH for life saving surgery. They could have gone to the USA or any other European country for their treatment, but they came to the U.K.
And, so far, so good; they're thriving.

Now that's good news that's happened in the UK isn't it? Didn't take much finding either! wink

crystaltipps Sun 21-Jul-19 21:45:04

If it’s just anything uplifting - it’s not “news and politics” then is it? Not much uplifting about that at the moment.

GracesGranMK3 Sun 21-Jul-19 21:31:24

Which is a really good description for propaganda *lemongrass". You are asking people to paint a picture that doesn't exist so that people who believe what you believe in can tear apart all that has been built up over our lifetimes.

lemongrove Sun 21-Jul-19 18:54:01

It’s about anything you hear, that lifts the spirits ( about things happening in and for the UK.)
Not that hard, is it?

crystaltipps Sun 21-Jul-19 18:39:07

Just because we don’t want to stick our heads in the sand about the current star of the political chaos in the country doesn’t mean we are total miseries who can’t enjoy the odd glass or two or enjoy a bit of nice scenery or be happy to live where we do. Surely temperate weather, Shakespeare, the rare sporting achievement, Shakespeare or whatever, isn’t really good “news” is it? So is this thread meant to be about “news and politics” or just let’s all have a drink and forget about the actual news which isn’t great for the U.K.

GillT57 Sun 21-Jul-19 18:17:53

To the contrary, I know I am lucky to live here, I do appreciate the heritage and traditions and such and I do get irritated by the suggestion that to support remain and to wish to remain within the EU means I am unpatriotic or critical of the country where I live. I know this is for another thread but the impending social political and economic disaster does overwhelm me and all my future plans.

petra Sun 21-Jul-19 17:28:56

Day6
As we say: it's over the yard somewhere in the world ??

Day6 Sun 21-Jul-19 17:13:15

Another thing - we recognise when the sun is over the yardarm. grin

It's a great British tradition and to recognise it, a G&T with ice and lemon is so lovely on a Sunday evening.

Day6 Sun 21-Jul-19 17:02:39

Noticeable that most of these 'good news' posts are not about good news about the UK at all, but are about some individuals' personal cheerfulness..

Ha ha. I see the "Everything is Awful" brigade just cannot help themselves! grin

Being optimistic isn't about lack of realism. Things are far from perfect in the UK, and I am sure we ALL acknowledge that, but please name me this social Utopia where EVERYTHING is spot on and no one has any hardship or grievances??

Glad to live in the UK. smile

Lessismore Sun 21-Jul-19 16:56:53

Do you live in Spain Pantglas? Must be nice.

Pantglas1 Sun 21-Jul-19 16:46:40

I also struggle with people who bring every thread down to their lowest common denominator left wing/right wing, Leaver/Remainer, them/us.

So down beat and depressing for the rest of us optimists who look at a glass and see it half full and not half empty.....talking of which I’m off to the bar for a tapa and a glass of something chilled! smile

lemongrove Sun 21-Jul-19 16:39:42

Alexa and others..... read the first sentence of the OP.
To lift our spirits!
There are threads aplenty to moan about Brexit / social injustices/ animal welfare etc etc.
So many Victoria Meldrews out there.

Alexa Sun 21-Jul-19 16:33:59

Lemongrove, when an optimist loses the argument she takes refuge insisting it's all light -hearted anyway.

lemongrove Sun 21-Jul-19 16:32:50

Perhaps I should have called it a diatribe on stirring up class hatred.

lemongrove Sun 21-Jul-19 16:31:39

Sigh!
Eloethan is not envious either.
A diatribe of envy was the way I described the article by the journalist.

Alexa Sun 21-Jul-19 16:27:09

lemongrove, I am not envious.

I agree with Eloethan

Lessismore Sun 21-Jul-19 16:04:09

Gill, what about the toilets? Good news surely?

lemongrove Sun 21-Jul-19 15:58:32

I could say the same of you GillT57
The ‘I’ journalist was trying to stir up class hatred.He or she could have used other means, but ‘Aristocrats’ is the one they chose to go with,and apart from a very few of them, the world of business has far more millionaires and billionaires.
If you don’t feel the UK has anything to celebrate then don’t
Bother about the thread.

GillT57 Sun 21-Jul-19 13:07:12

The problem is lemon that apart from several major sporting victories there is very little to celebrate at the moment as we watch the political disaster unfold, applauded by the supporters of it. I read and understood the article in the I and I was not envious but angry. You are obviously an intelligent person why do you deliberately misunderstand anything which does not back up your view?

lemongrove Sun 21-Jul-19 10:06:12

Plus, in case you hadn’t noticed, this was meant to be a light hearted thread celebrating good news.

lemongrove Sun 21-Jul-19 10:04:20

Eloethan....and true to form you assume I was talking of you, when they were not your words but those of an ‘I’
Journalist.

Eloethan Sun 21-Jul-19 10:00:16

lemongrove True to form, you take personal aim and characterise what I have said as being indicative of "envy". It isn't necessary to have a specifically personal agenda to raise issues that are felt by many to indicate a continuance - and indeed a serious escalation - of conditions creating massive inequality in this country.

For those who are comfortably off - and I consider myself and my family to meet that description - it would be too easy to say "all is well with the world so why do people keep "moaning" ". However, all is not well with the world and, in this case, this country, when significant numbers of people can no longer house, feed and clothe themselves adequately and when public services have been, and continue to be, run down at an alarming rate.

I was pointing out that whilst those with the greatest wealth in our society have in fact hugely benefited from the "light touch regulation" initiated by Mrs Thatcher and the governments that followed her prime ministership, which led to the financial crisis of 2008, the vast majority of people have been subjected to stagnating or falling wages/incomes. At the same time they have been trying to meet the rising cost of essentials such as housing, energy, food, transport, etc. For people on low incomes - and quite often those doing the most essential jobs - this has caused great distress - but maybe we shouldn't mention it for fear of being called "envious".

lemongrove Sun 21-Jul-19 09:48:21

wildswan16.....you may well ask!
Actually, it was always going to happen as moaning is a great source of enjoyment to some.
The UK has a great deal to celebrate.?

Greta Sun 21-Jul-19 09:03:23

Crystaltipps: I don’t know where people get the idea that Uk farm animal welfare is the best in Europe.

Perhaps the good news here is our optimism and aspiration. There seems to be a childish need in this country to ”be the best”, not just in Europe but in the world. For years we have been told that the NHS is ”the envy of the rest of the world”. Yet we learn that certain treatments available elsewhere are not offered here. I have received excellent health care in other European countries. Maternity services in the UK lag behind those in other EU countries. It suits us to forget mad cow disease and contaminated blood transfusions because they taint the picture.

Instead we have been reminded of the Cecil Rhodes quote: ”Remember that you are an Englishman and have consequently won the first prize in the lottery of life”. We could argue this statement till the cows come home. Let's hope they are not all mad.

wildswan16 Sun 21-Jul-19 09:00:37

Oh dear, this thread was about the good things happening in the UK - big and small, political and otherwise.

Why has it morphed into a load of moaning?