Forum Topics

Misleading headline

British tourists will pay more to visit Louvre, says MacronFollowed by: French president targets non-EU citizens to help fund ‘special area’ for Mona Lisa amid warnings museum is in ‘deplorable state’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/28/british-tourists-pay-more-for-louvre-macron-announces/The measure is targetted at non-EU citizens, not the British in particular.  Appalling reporting!

Ivonne Holliday ● 647d10 Comments ● 647d

Forum software problems remain (for me anyway)

It must be me. As mentioned a few days ago, "I have been having to logon anew far more than ever before." Still.I now use the New Forum to post as the Old Forum just does not seem to work for me for posting. Harder work and fiddly. But I prefer to read on the Old.

David Ainsworth ● 650d7 Comments ● 647d

Random pic 29 January 2p25

Westbound Central Line, Stratford; platforms to the left and right https://flic.kr/p/2iyoATV

Michael Ixer ● 648d4 Comments ● 647d

Another Bad Decision By Starmer

Mandelson was always a weird choice in my opinion. Donald Trump is considering rejecting Sir Keir Starmer’s nominee for UK ambassador to the US in what would be an extremely rare move.Sources within the Trump team have told The Independent that it is still not certain Peter Mandelson’s credentials will be accepted by Mr Trump after he becomes president.While the threat of rejecting Lord Mandelson could be sabre rattling, strains between the Labour government and the incoming administration are being blamed. However, there also are concerns about Lord Mandelson’s perceived links to China.Labour has told the Trump transition team that “it is a huge compliment” that Sir Keir wants to send such a senior Labour figure, but a source noted: “We are not buying that.”It was noted that Lord Mandelson did not attend the pre-inauguration party on Friday hosted by Nigel Farage in Washington DC, even though he had been invited in an effort to help build bridges with key members of the Trump team.The outgoing UK ambassador Dame Karen Pierce, who has impressed the transition team, was there.For an ambassadorial nominee to formally take up their role, the head of state of the country they have been sent to has to accept the “letters of credence”.In the UK this is done via the Court of St James’s where letters are presented to the King and in the US letters have to be presented to the president.One source said that strained relations with Mr Trump and the British government continue to be a problem which has “been made worse” by the nomination of Lord Mandelson.However, it is connections with China which are most alarming to the incoming Trump administration.“It is quite possible that Mandelson’s credentials could still be rejected,” a source said. “There are serious concerns about his links to China.”Lord Mandelson has been a strong advocate of close trading and other ties with China, even penning an article in 2018 warning that Mr Trump’s antipathy to China was “putting free trade at risk”.https://www.aol.co.uk/trump-considering-rejecting-lord-mandelson-162908190.html

Sue Hammond ● 658d50 Comments ● 647d

Scandalous Southport Cover-Up

So the truth is emerging, at long last. However last November Nigel Farage attempted to shine a spotlight on the Northern rape gangs scandal and bring it out into the open. He had long suspected that there had been, and still is, a huge cover-up about the Pakistani rapists and he was determined to expose it. He raised the subject in Parliament, he voiced his fears on television and radio and he was widely quoted in the media and the MSM. Fortunately the Daily Mail and the Telegraph were not afraid of reporting the truth and generally they did support Farage.
Well we all know what happened next: the Left wing media erupted with their usual, hysterical rhetoric accusing Farage of racism, and he was vilified by keyboard warriors on forums such as this one. You know who you are.
The Grandfather of one of the little girls who was brutally murdered by that evil POS, has spoken out too about the cover-up and he is fiercely critical of Starmer's part in it. 
I will post the MailOnline article later if nobody else has already done

Sue Hammond ● 654d49 Comments ● 648d

Will there be 3?

Fascinated how languid the Forum is in view of forecast to build 3rd runway at Heathrow. Is this because nobody thinks it will happen? Or because we have all lost our zip?

Alexander MacLeod ● 649d13 Comments ● 648d

Random pic 28 January 2025

Bicycle park, Ghent St Peters station https://flic.kr/p/2qHvb6E

Michael Ixer ● 649d5 Comments ● 648d

Can you see what it is yet?

"Trump wants Jordan and Egypt to accept more Palestinian refugees and suggests plan to 'clean out' Gaza US President  Donald Trump  has indicated that he would like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they are accepting from the  Gaza  Strip. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One yesterday, Trump, an ally of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said: “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say, ‘You know, it’s over.’” Trump also told reporters that he had call earlier in the day with  King Abdullah II o f Jordan and would speak with Egyptian President  Abdel Fattah el-Sissi  on Sunday. The newly inaugurated Republican president said he complimented Jordan for having successfully accepted Palestinian refugees and that he told the king: “I’d love for you to take on more, cause I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess.” For context,Jordan is already home to more than 2.39 million registered Palestinian refugees,  according to the UN . Trump added: I don’t know, something has to happen, but it’s literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything’s demolished and people are dying there, so I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing in a different location where I think they could maybe live in peace for a change. Trump said that the potential housing “could be temporary” or “could be long-term”. During Israel’s 15 month war on Gaza,  more than two-thirds of buildings  have been destroyed or damaged by one of the most intensive bombardments in modern times. It has sparked a refugee crisis as large parts of the territory are now uninhabitable." (Guardian today) No surprises.

David Ainsworth ● 650d20 Comments ● 648d

Matt in today's Telegraph

Ivonne Holliday ● 649d4 Comments ● 648d

Govt To Provide £117 Million More Funding To Protect Muslims

How thoughtful. No money found though for the Pensioners' Winter Fuel Allowance or the WASPI Women. 🤬
Today’s announcement marks a package of longer-term support to provide reassurance that anti-Muslim abuse, threats or harassment or any form of hate crime will not be tolerated.  
The funding will provide protective security measures to ensure the UK’s Muslim community can be, and just as importantly, can feel safe. 

Measures include technology such as CCTV, alarm systems and secure perimeter fencing at mosques, Muslim faith community centres, and Muslim faith schools.  
This comes alongside the extension of the deadline for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, and the government continues to invite mosques and Muslim faith community centres to register for protective security measures. 
The government will continue to work closely with policing and community partners to ensure the safety and security of Muslims.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: Anti-Muslim hatred has absolutely no place in our society. We will not let events in the Middle East be used as an excuse to justify abuse against British Muslims.
The Prime Minister has made clear that we stand with Muslims in the UK. That is exactly why we have committed to this funding, giving reassurance and confidence to UK Muslims at a time when it is crucially needed.
Labour is committed to protecting the Muslim vote whatever the cost! 

Sue Hammond ● 649d2 Comments ● 649d

Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence.

Elon Musk jokes about Nazis after Netanyahu defends him as 'great friend of Israel' | The Times of Israel
Elon Musk @elonmusk Don’t say Hess to Nazi accusations! Some people will Goebbels anything down! Stop Gőring your enemies! His pronouns would’ve been He/Himmler! Bet you did nazi that coming 12:33 pm · 23 Jan 2025 · 53.5M Views

David Ainsworth ● 651d17 Comments ● 649d

Chancellor swerves question over 'catastrophic' Heathrow runway expansion plans

Having lost any signs of growth (fell into a black hole apparently), the chancellor is now looking down the back of sofas for loose change.I think the government are going to move very fast on Heathrow expansion."Rachel Reeves was asked to comment on reports that the government was planning to back the expansion of Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports, as part of her growth agenda."https://news.sky.com/story/chancellor-swerves-question-over-catastrophic-heathrow-runway-expansion-plans-13293521

Ed Robinson ● 655d33 Comments ● 649d

Random pic 27 January 2025

Beverley Brook, Richmond Park https://flic.kr/p/2kUAyoG

Michael Ixer ● 650d1 Comments ● 649d

Question

Could somebody explain why everything put on Putney Forum Philippa, twists to the way she wants it to read. Even though I know who has a brain Philippa twists everything to how she wants something to read. Hammersmith Bridge then goes on about Hospitals. Describing a person, Philippa turns into an argument.  Imagine a Police Officer asking her to describe a person. What would she answer, never mind about that the hospitals need gardens.

Barbara Stevens ● 651d8 Comments ● 650d

Murder In Putney?

Just heard on LBC that a man was murdered in Putney in the early hours and the police are looking for a 31 year old in connection with the death. I think I have got that right but my ears only pricked up when Putney was mentioned.

Sue Hammond ● 652d12 Comments ● 650d

It's Big Gardenwatch Weekend

Who knows what may have been blown in!https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch

Philippa Bond ● 651d1 Comments ● 650d

Why have Labour been so incompetent?

A list of some of Labour's errors since taking office:abandoning the Rwanda schemegiving striking doctors and train drivers inflationary pay awardswithdrawing winter fuel allowancepausing free speech protection in universitiesimposing the National Curriculum on AcademiesImposing IHT on family farmsraising employers' NI contributionsextending day-one employment rightsimposing a football regulatorgiving away the Chagos islandscancelling North Sea oil and gas explorationimposing VAT on private schoolsagreeing to enforce an ICC arrest warrant on Netanyahu.The cause of these unforced errors is to be found in Labour's move away from state socialism to what Tony Blair called ethical socialism, an ideology based on a market economy but characterised by a series of  anti-isms - anti-elitism, anti-racism, anti-colonialism, anti-sexism, anti-nationalism and so on. These 'anti-isms' are not wrong in themselves but are pursued with such unthinking fervour that they run counter to the government's economic objectives and the nation's interests and actually cause injustice.The anti-elitist strain in Labour, for example, regards successful entrepreneurs with suspicion, equating profit with exploitation. This has led to Rachel Reeve's decision to increase employers' NI contributions as well as to extend day-one employment rights for workers. These measures will result in reduced investment and slow growth, the very opposite of the government supposedly wants to achieve.. Anti-elitist ideology is also responsible for the unjust decision to impose VAT on private schools, a measure which will force parents of modest means to withdraw their children from efficient and much-loved schools even when adequate state provision is lacking. It is also behind the decision to impose unaffordable IHT bills on family farms, which will compel many asset-rich but income-poor farmers to sell up, jeopardising food production in this country.   

Steven Rose ● 651d18 Comments ● 650d

Palestinian terrorists release some female Israeli hostages

From BBC News.'Four female hostages who were held by Hamas in Gaza have returned to IsraelGunmen and crowds gathered in Palestine Square in Gaza City as the hostages were released to the Red Cross in a highly choreographed handoverThe four women - who are the second group of hostages released since a ceasefire deal was agreed - are Israeli soldiers who were taken on 7 OctoberIsrael is set to release 200 Palestinian prisoners in return, 70 of whom are expected to be deportedHowever, the Israeli government accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire deal by not releasing civilian hostage Arbel YehudIn response, Israel said displaced Palestinians will not yet be allowed to return to northern Gaza, as had been scheduled under the dealMeanwhile, Hamas is expected to provide more information about the remaining 26 hostages due to be released in the coming weeks.Under the agreement, 50 prisoners are to be released for every Israeli soldier, and 30 prisoners are released for every Israeli civilian.During his press conference a little earlier, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari expressed concern for the welfare of two children still held by Hamas.The youngest hostages still in Gaza are part of the Bibas family. They are brothers Kfir and Ariel, aged two and four respectively.Kfir was only ten months old when he was taken captive alongside his parents Sheri and Yarden.****Hamas said in December 2023 that Sheri and the boys had been killed'****.The BBC report shows a graphic picture of today's handover event with the identities of the brave boys of Hamas hidden behind masks and balaclava helmets and who are carrying automatic weapons.The women are smiling but who knows what the Palestinians subjected them to.Hamas claim this as a sign of victory, particularly the release of those of their members tried and convicted for terrorist offences in the past such as bombings of civilians in Israel.But I wonder what lies in store for them once Israel has all its captured citizens back. BTW was there a pro-Palestine/anti-Israel 'peace march in London today ?

John Hawkes ● 651d6 Comments ● 650d

Random pic 26 January 2025

The Guildhall London https://flic.kr/p/2qrBpvg

Michael Ixer ● 650d0 Comments ● 650d

Putney

Came from Sainsbury's Lunch Time, ready to cross the road, a young lady about 40, I couldn't understand her, thought was going to ask for directions, asked for money for food.  the lady had a fantastic black coat and fleece underneath, clean shoe's.  I said your dressed better than me. with that she walked off to the bus stop by the old WH Smith, and was then asking a man at the bus stop.

Barbara Stevens ● 655d11 Comments ● 651d