Boris and the Ukraine.

To be fair to Tickingbird, David Baddiel is no Mrs Browns Boys

You mix in narrow circles clearly tickingbird, or maybe just don’t ask the people you know whether they find him funny.

Coastpath wrote

"HolySoxGiven that you value our freedoms so much I would be very interested to hear your opinion on the governments plan to introduce laws enabling protesters to be sent to jail merely for protesting"

This should be a diffrrent thread - do we have one? Wait till the Bill has gone through?

volver

My MIL, now sadly gone a long time, used to be like that.

That film was rubbish.

No mum, you just didn't like it. There's a difference.

Indeed

My MIL, now sadly gone a long time, used to be like that.

That film was rubbish.

No mum, you just didn't like it. There's a difference.

Sorry ladies I have never met anyone that finds DB funny. A comic? That’s a joke?

His last tour was about social media, it was one of my last nights out before the pandemic. It was excellent, I dont agree with him on a number of things but his analysis of social media is fascinating.

Yeah if that's failure I wouldnt mind being a million behind him. He was the first comedian to sell out Wembley arena.

And a number one single...

Referring to DB as a comedian is comedic. I think it’s generally accepted he’s a failed (badly) comedian.

The facts suggest that you think wrong Tickingbird. It's not generally accepted that he's a failed comedian.

Stand up shows that have transferred to the west end and run on and on, multiple awards, sold over 1 million books. appeared in multiple critically acclaimed shows, extensive charity work.....etc.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Baddiel

tickingbird

^There was quite an interesting piece by a comedian the other day, I think it was David Baddiel^

Referring to DB as a comedian is comedic. I think it’s generally accepted he’s a failed (badly) comedian.

But a successful author I believe?

maddyone

Could a link be provided by the poster who claimed GB News is being funded by Russia/Russians?
My little bit of research suggests it is funded by America, Dubai, and the UK, meaning people/companies from those places provided the 60 million funding needed. If others have evidence to show otherwise I’m happy to be corrected.

Take your pick.

tribunemag.co.uk/2021/06/behind-gb-news

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/christopher-chandler-spy-money-man-for-putin-and-trump-no-im-just-a-shy-billionaire-2h58mbmqh

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5695573/Legatum-founder-suspected-spy.html

There was quite an interesting piece by a comedian the other day, I think it was David Baddiel

Referring to DB as a comedian is comedic. I think it’s generally accepted he’s a failed (badly) comedian.

Could a link be provided by the poster who claimed GB News is being funded by Russia/Russians?
My little bit of research suggests it is funded by America, Dubai, and the UK, meaning people/companies from those places provided the 60 million funding needed. If others have evidence to show otherwise I’m happy to be corrected.

Boris held the helm and steered us through COVID

Aaaaaaargh !

Coastpath

HolySox Given that you value our freedoms so much I would be very interested to hear your opinion on the governments plan to introduce laws enabling protesters to be sent to jail merely for protesting?

The parties weren't merely 'drinking wine' they were a clear sign of a government that didn't/couldn't/wouldn't follow the rules of our society - rules it had put in place just days before.

Partygate should fade into the background given the horror unfolding in Ukraine, but when we are able we should immediately return to rooting out the the corruption, lies and lack of integrity at the heart of our government.

I agree. I’m ashamed of the corruption and greed at the heart of government and all those Tories who fail to take any action against this.

None of us will be worrying about BJ if Putin follows through his thinly veiled threat to wage war against the UK because we sent military arms to Ukraine. Let’s hope to God that doesn’t happen. I’m extremely worried about Putin.

HolySox

The conflict has put things in perspective. In the UK we are free, well the press is free, to campaign against the government because they may have had a glass of wine in lockdown ... compared to a country that has a 'strong leader'. Putin has sent his country into war for his own personal ideals but will lock up any citizen for 15 years for saying so! Partygate might have given government opponents opportunity to challenge the integrity of Boris and his party ... but I am left thinking Partygate is so trivial in light of what we could have!
Boris held the helm and steered us through COVID and so far I am happy with his leadership in the current crisis. Still praying for a swift resolution in Ukraine.

Holysox glad you think that it is good for a country to have a free press and the right to demonstrate against government policies.
Such a pity that the current administration in UK is so intent on taking away that second right as quickly as they push the revised legislation through parliament.
And, as for a free press - mainly owned by a very few billionnaires who use it to push their own interests on the the British public.

Like other countries, so meany people in UK are taken in by the government propagander machine

volver

HolySox

Morning volver. As I've said before, all politicians are liars so difficult to draw a 'line of acceptability'. Rather than debate Partygate, the point I was really making is how free we and the press are in the UK compared to how it could be. We can criticise our government without fear of the police turning up.

Off out now but leave you with this thought - our government has 'courted' Russian Oligarchs and Russian money - do wonder if there has always been a strategic tool to influence Russia. For instance, we can impose economic sanctions that will have an impact on Russia - this wasn't possible in the old days of the USSR. Of course that would vindicate Boris and the Tories relationship with Russians...

I had to read that twice HolySox, my fault, not yours.

I certainly agree that we are privileged to live in a state where criticising the government does not lead to long term imprisonment (yet).

But when I got to the bit about how the government are leading the Russians up the garden path by accepting all those roubles, its all for the good of the UK.... I am actually speechless. Well done, it doesn't happen often.

You have said exactly what I was thinking, Volver, but worded it so much better than I would have.

(By the way, I am guessing from your moniker that you are back here under a new name, and your writing style does seem familiar, but (assuming I am right, that is), I still haven't managed to put my finger on your previous identity.)

Thank you for all your thoughtful responses.
I suppose the point is that we’re not at war, which is what Maggie was faced with. Add to that the Russian influence on British politics which is yet to be fully uncovered - so Boris is in an entirely different situation.

There was quite an interesting piece by a comedian the other day, I think it was David Baddiel but I cant remember, he was pointing out the skills that a good stand up needs, courage, intelligence, empathy and so on. Fairly useful transferable skills.

Galaxy

Oh bugger volver you beat me to it.

Oh bugger volver you beat me to it.

Next thing you know they'll be putting a comedian in charge.

08:11Urmstongran
I think we will have to wait and see but I think he will bounce back as we move out of the pandemic. Much of the Western world will be knocked sideways by inflation due to various factors at play so any Brexit downsides (maybe less than some fear?) as such will be difficult to extrapolate. In the short term he’s lucky to have Ben Wallace (ex Scots Army) as his wingman as Minister for Defence - he could still have been listening to the hapless Gavin Williamson.
?

Yes Boris is lucky to have Ben Wallace with all his experience, the SNP have this wally ?