UK Politics Thread part II

[Jimbuna]

Fourth Tory investigated in election bets probe

A fourth senior Conservative is being looked into by the Gambling Commission over bets allegedly placed on the date of the general election.

The Sunday Times reported that the party's chief data officer Nick Mason allegedly placed dozens of bets, which the paper says could have generated winnings of thousands of pounds.

A spokesman for Mr Mason told the BBC that it would not be appropriate to comment during an investigation but he denied wrongdoing.

Mr Mason has now taken a leave of absence from his Tory party role, 11 days from election day on 4 July.

The Conservative Party said it was "not permitted to discuss any matters related" to any Gambling Commission investigation.

The BBC has previously reported that two Conservative election candidates and another party official are also being investigated.

Both Laura Saunders and Craig Williams have confirmed they were being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

Ms Saunders, the party’s candidate in Bristol North West, has worked for the Tories since 2015.

Ms Saunders's partner is the Conservative director of campaigning Tony Lee, who is also being looked at over an alleged bet. He has taken a leave of absence from his job.

The allegations of gambling on the election date first emerged against one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s closest aides, Mr Williams, who reportedly placed a £100 bet on a July polling day three days before the date was named.

Mr Williams, who was the Tory MP for Montgomery until the election was called and is standing again in the new constituency of Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, previously apologised and said he made a "huge error of judgement".

When asked by the BBC, he refused to say whether he placed a bet on the basis of inside information.

Speaking about the allegations on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Home Secretary James Cleverly said the Gambling Commission were investigating and it was "right and proper that we let them do their job".

Asked if any ministers had placed a bet on the timing of the election, Mr Cleverly said: "Not to my knowledge."

Following the latest allegation, a Conservative spokesman said: "As instructed by the Gambling Commission, we are not permitted to discuss any matters related to any investigation with the subject or any other persons."

Last week, Mr Sunak said he had been "incredibly angry" to learn about the allegations, promising to "boot out" anyone found to have broken gambling laws from the Conservative Party.

Mr Sunak announced 4 July as the date of the general election on 22 May, taking much of Westminster by surprise.

If someone uses confidential information to gain an unfair advantage when betting, this could be a criminal offence under section 42 of the Gambling Act.

A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission confirmed to the BBC it is "investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election".

The Commission also said it could not provide any further details about the investigation or who was being looked into as it is an ongoing process.

"We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation," it said.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats called for Mr Sunak to suspend those under investigation.

Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson described the allegations as "pretty shocking" and said there would be "genuine disgust" amongst voters.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the PM should launch a Cabinet Office inquiry into the reports, which she described as an "all-out scandal at the heart of the Conservative Party".

"People are sick and tired of this sleaze. Day by day, hour by hour, the Conservative government mire themselves in more of it", she said.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has condemned the latest reports, and likened the controversy to Partygate during the Covid-19 crisis.

"It looks like one rule for them and one rule for us," the Tory cabinet minister, who is not standing again at the election, told the Sunday Times.

It has also emerged that a police officer working as part of the prime minister’s close protection team had been arrested following an allegation of bets on the timing of the election.

The officer was initially suspended by the Metropolitan Police and then arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The individual has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The Met was contacted by the Gambling Commission last Friday. It informed the force that it was investigating alleged bets made by a police constable from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c511nv3pjd6o

[Rockstar]

UK begins detaining migrants set to be deported to Rwanda

By Reuters
May 1, 202412:51 PM EDT

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-...da-2024-05-01/

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - British authorities have started to detain migrants in preparation for them to be sent to Rwanda in the next nine to 11 weeks, the government said on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flagship immigration policy.
Parliament last month approved a law that paves the way for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda if they arrive in Britain without permission. Sunak, who is expected to call an election later this year in which illegal migration is likely to feature prominently, wants the first flights to take off in July.
More than 7,500 migrants have arrived in England on small boats from France so far this year. The government says the new law will deter people from making the perilous trip across the Channel. Five people died trying to make the crossing last week.
Images released by Britain's interior ministry on Wednesday showed a man being put in a van by immigration enforcement officials, and another being led out of his house in handcuffs.

"Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground," interior minister James Cleverly said in a statement on Wednesday.
One trade union representing civil servants who may be instructed to help enact the policy said it had launched a legal challenge because its members were potentially being asked to breach international law.

"Civil servants should never be left in a position where they are conflicted between the instructions of ministers and adhering to the Civil Service Code, yet that is exactly what the government has chosen to do," said Dave Penman, General Secretary of the FDA union.

OPPOSITION

Other unions and human rights charities opposed to the policy are expected to launch challenges to stop the flights from taking off after the UK Supreme Court declared the policy unlawful last year.

Care4Calais, a refugee charity, said the detentions had started on Monday.

A spokesperson said the group's helpline had received calls from "tens of people", adding that they still did not know who would be earmarked for the first deportation flight, or when it would be attempted.

"People are very frightened," said Natasha Tsangarides, Associate Director of Advocacy at charity Freedom from Torture, saying the fear of being detained and sent to Rwanda would push some people to go underground and disengage with their support system.

[Rockstar]

Certainly this article shows that if you voted for Brexit it proves you must agree with Farage and support Putin’s argument the west provoked Ukraine and therefore the genocide of Ukrainians is justified. OMG and because I’m stupid enough to believe such arguments, articles and algorithms that show up on my feed it must mean civil war is on the horizon! Let’s discuss who would win a civil war in the U.K.
——————

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, criticized for saying West provoked Putin to invade Ukraine

https://apnews.com/article/britain-e...2ad708e8d78389

LONDON (AP) — Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform U.K party, is facing wide-ranging criticism across the political spectrum over his claim that the West provoked Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, including of being an appeaser.

In a BBC television interview broadcast Friday evening, Farage, who is seeking to woo voters away from Britain’s governing Conservatives at the July 4 general election, drew a link between the expansion of NATO and the European Union eastwards over the past few decades and the invasion.

Claiming that he warned of a potential war in Ukraine in 2014, when he was a member of the European Parliament, Farage said “we provoked this war.” It’s unclear whether his warning came before or after Russia had annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in February 2014.

“It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say, ‘They’re coming for us again’ and to go to war,” Farage said. “It’s, you know, of course it’s his fault — he’s used what we’ve done as an excuse.”

Farage’s critics from across the political spectrum slammed his statement, with many describing him as a Putin apologist.

In perhaps his sharpest criticism of Farage, Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “completely wrong” to say the West provoked Putin into launching a full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“This is a man who deployed nerve agents on the streets of Britain, who’s doing deals with countries like North Korea,” Sunak said. “And this kind of appeasement is dangerous for Britain’s security, the security of our allies that rely on us and only emboldens Putin further.”

Many Conservatives, including Sunak, have largely held back from overly criticizing Farage, who though not a lawmaker in the U.K. Parliament, was hugely influential in Britain’s vote to leave the EU in 2016.

The worry among many Conservatives is that attacking him too much will further alienate many Conservative voters, who sympathize with his tough rhetoric on issues like immigration and Brexit. In many constituencies around the country, Conservatives have argued that a vote for Reform would see the main opposition Labour Party come through the middle and win.

“I think Nigel Farage is a bit like that pub bore we have all met at the end of the bar who often says if ‘I was running the country’ and presents very simplistic answers to actually, I am afraid in the 21st century, complex problems,” Ben Wallace, the former Conservative defense secretary who has stood down as a lawmaker, told BBC radio.

This is the first general election that Reform U.K. is contesting and it has enjoyed a lift in the polls after Farage said in early June he would lead the party and contest the seat in Clacton in southeast England. Though the party is not expected to secure many seats, Farage is currently favorite to win his contest and finally enter Parliament after seven attempts.

Keir Starmer, leader of the left-of-center Labour Party who is widely expected to become prime minister after the election, labelled Farage’s comments as “disgraceful.”

“Anyone who is standing for Parliament ought to be really clear that Russia is the aggressor,” he said.

[Moonlight]

^You're posting a load of bollocks again Rocky.

Seat by seat, how you can help stop a Starmer supermajority: Small number of Reform voters in constituencies across the country could prevent a Labour landslide if they vote Tory

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...vote-Tory.html

The Daily Mail are using desperate measures to convince the voters to elect the Tories back into power again, 14 years of Austerity and Broken Promises all under the watchful eye of 5 different Tory Prime Ministers, they're not a fit and proper party to deserve another term in office.
One of the most shameful acts instigated by Cameron was to blame a bunch of cripples for the countries ills, I would have respected him more if he'd gone on TV and said we can't afford these cripples and we're going to execute the lot of them. All of this was going on while the Tories were dishing out Tax Freebies to the wealthiest in the country, and what did some of those pig troughers do, they just stuck their snouts even deeper into the PPE trough scandal.
Who was in charge of all these wasted PPE billions at that time, our very own Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, trust you again Rishi?, not a ******* chance.

There are major problems for all the parties at the moment and most of them have been caused by out of touch politicians, I'm still not convinced by this Labour Super Majority, the Muslim vote is going to be a factor, then there's Starmer and his flip flopping, especially trying to appease Trans mental cases at the cost of alienating the women voters, and the Tax Burden that might be added to our aching backs, yep, Starmer might end up with egg on his face, lets hope so as i detest Champagne Socialists.

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak says he's "not aware" of other Conservative candidates being looked at by the Gambling Commission over alleged election date bets.

The Gambling Commission is looking into alleged bets by at least four Conservatives, including candidates Craig Williams and Laura Saunders.

In Edinburgh, Sunak says his party is carrying out "internal inquiries" as well..

Former minister Tobias Ellwood tells the BBC that Rishi Sunak should suspend Conservative candidates involved in the "saga"

Labour's Keir Starmer says gender "ideology" should not be taught in scools.

The Lib Dems are focusing on hospital waiting times; the SNP's John Swinney is speaking on Brexit; while the DUP has launched its manifesto in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, the IFS think tank says the problems with the UK's public finances are being "largely ignored" by the two main parties.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Moonlight

^You're posting a load of bollocks again Rocky.

Seat by seat, how you can help stop a Starmer supermajority: Small number of Reform voters in constituencies across the country could prevent a Labour landslide if they vote Tory

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...vote-Tory.html

The Daily Mail are using desperate measures to convince the voters to elect the Tories back into power again, 14 years of Austerity and Broken Promises all under the watchful eye of 5 different Tory Prime Ministers, they're not a fit and proper party to deserve another term in office.
One of the most shameful acts instigated by Cameron was to blame a bunch of cripples for the countries ills, I would have respected him more if he'd gone on TV and said we can't afford these cripples and we're going to execute the lot of them. All of this was going on while the Tories were dishing out Tax Freebies to the wealthiest in the country, and what did some of those pig troughers do, they just stuck their snouts even deeper into the PPE trough scandal.
Who was in charge of all these wasted PPE billions at that time, our very own Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, trust you again Rishi?, not a ******* chance.

There are major problems for all the parties at the moment and most of them have been caused by out of touch politicians, I'm still not convinced by this Labour Super Majority, the Muslim vote is going to be a factor, then there's Starmer and his flip flopping, especially trying to appease Trans mental cases at the cost of alienating the women voters, and the Tax Burden that might be added to our aching backs, yep, Starmer might end up with egg on his face, lets hope so as i detest Champagne Socialists.

Well here be his mate

Reform’s manifesto pledges ‘are poisoning public debate’

Reform UK’s manifesto pledges are “poisoning the public debate” in Britain by promising unrealistic spending plans which undermine other parties’ policies, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said.

Paul Johnson, director of the IFS, said plans by both Reform and the Green party to spend tens of billions of pounds funded from unreliable sources made other parties look “feeble” without offering a real alternative to voters.

He said: “The way they suggest that they have radical ideas which can realistically make a positive difference, when in fact what they propose is wholly unattainable, helps to poison the entire political debate.

“It makes the other parties look feeble when you say, ‘We can do all this stuff. You can’t.’”
Reform UK, headed by Nigel Farage, has promised a wave of tax cuts and spending increases which the IFS said would risk a rerun of the crunch that swept financial markets after Liz Truss’s mini-Budget in 2022.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/othe...46b4e3a3&ei=73

[mapuc]

There's one thing I find amazing and that is how short memory voters have.

People tired of the Tory!? Lets vote Labour then

Have the voters forgot how it was during their time at the steering wheel ?

I'm pretty sure it was mostly if not the same as it has been under the Tories

Markus

[Catfish]

Well if people vote for populist parties they should not be surprised what happens next, and to them.

[Moonlight]

Until Reform came up with their spending plans I thought they were holding their end up pretty well, the other 2 parties are being tight lipped about the tax burden they're about to inflict upon the voters, I was going to say population but, Illegal Migrants don't pay tax do they, the scrounging bastards.

[Jimbuna]

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Oh damn, now Keir Starmer, is going have to eat, some crow of his own , about betting.

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Certainly this article shows that if you voted for Brexit it proves you must agree with Farage and support Putin’s argument the west provoked Ukraine and therefore the genocide of Ukrainians is justified. OMG and because I’m stupid enough to believe such arguments, articles and algorithms that show up on my feed it must mean civil war is on the horizon! Let’s discuss who would win a civil war in the U.K.
——————

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, criticized for saying West provoked Putin to invade Ukraine

https://apnews.com/article/britain-e...2ad708e8d78389

Stupid is stupid,
your are an ass , Algorithms is how we find you.

have you lost your mind, The last time you was somewhere looking for a cause.If it didn't work out for ya. Don't worry about it, Joey and Democrats they need volunteers for Ukraine.And it would seem your capabilities in the forest. Would make you a perfect candidate. And the Brits Have no choice they can not survive, their best minds. Have been ,Oh that's right, their minds were lost in the years after the war. When you get on the leash of the American version of Democracy well the World will burn.
Is there any country out there that NATO hasn't touched that hasn't in the name of Democracy burned. tell me one. Just one, and if you are the recipient of NATO, Tell us how your country has prospered,.Oh where is the IMF and all these globals. Where is Greta Thunberg ,She hasn't even shown her face ,

since her BLAH,BLAH bull****, Greta the World needs you can't you tell Joe Biden stop this war. Greta, How will the planet survive. All the bombs and fossil fuel's. Greta the world needs you where are you ? Greta the American youth needs you and where the **** are you, Damn It Why don't you tell the American President stop this war? Greta where are you ? Oh Rockstar, time will tell. Ah look at stuff and find me on DAY Z. When i'm not there i'm playing the best SubSim game Silent Hunter 3 Ah, how can you playt it. 2nd hard drive and you must have the old 9.c full stuff . any who .

[Jimbuna]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says “the culture of politics" needs to change in light of the investigations into allegations of gambling on the general election.

On Tuesday, it emerged the Gambling Commission was looking at a fifth Conservative - Russell George, a member of the Welsh Parliament - for betting on the date.

The commission is also investigating Kevin Craig, who was a Labour candidate in Suffolk, for betting on himself to lose - he says he made a "stupid error"

BBC Newsnight learns that up to 15 Conservative Party candidates and officials are being looked at by the Gambling Commission.

Earlier Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride defended PM Rishi Sunak's handling of the scandal, insisting he took "very decisive action"

Coming up at 20:15 BST: Sunak and Starmer face each other in the final head-to-head TV debate of the campaign.

[Jimbuna]

Surely this idiot will lose his seat next week.

George Galloway says he trusts Vladimir Putin more than Keir Starmer

George Galloway told Piers Morgan that he trusts Vladimir Putin more than Sir Keir Starmer.

The MP for Rochdale was challenged on his comments during an appearance on the presenter’s Uncensored show on Talk TV broadcast on Wednesday, 26 June.

Explaining his view, Mr Galloway said it was because he “doesn’t trust, automatically, any politician.”

Mr Morgan took issue with Mr Galloway’s comments, remarking: “You seem to have brought into Putin’s whole justification, as [Nigel] Farage has, ‘He was provoked. He had no option’.

“[Putin] will attack where he smells weakness.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...0965694d&ei=25

[Moonlight]

^That'll depend on how stupid those Muslim voters are, me thinks they'll be cutting off their noses to spite there faces again, a pound to a penny says they're thicker than a brick, any takers.