In reply to Post #86
My worry is that Keir Starmer is a champagne socialist, or as I described Tony Blair, a Pink Tory.
I think that the problem is those who are in power, the government, live mostly in towns and the countryside is alien to them. They are corrupt, often receiving big donations from private companies, like the water companies, rail franchises etc, and simply don't care about the environment.
We are at the stage of needing a revolution, to remove political parties from government and going to a system of people of the people chosen by the people, with no party bias.
Unfortunately how do you choose people to represent your area? Not easy when a constituency will be covering tiny villages with no major towns.
We aren't capable of choosing the wisest, most environmentally friendly, and it seems that those with common sense don't want anything to do with politics.
My worry is that Keir Starmer is a champagne socialist, or as I described Tony Blair, a Pink Tory.
I think that the problem is those who are in power, the government, live mostly in towns and the countryside is alien to them. They are corrupt, often receiving big donations from private companies, like the water companies, rail franchises etc, and simply don't care about the environment.
We are at the stage of needing a revolution, to remove political parties from government and going to a system of people of the people chosen by the people, with no party bias.
Unfortunately how do you choose people to represent your area? Not easy when a constituency will be covering tiny villages with no major towns.
We aren't capable of choosing the wisest, most environmentally friendly, and it seems that those with common sense don't want anything to do with politics.
In reply to Post #91
Keir Starmer is practically a Tory and appears to be angering huge swathes of the LP membership with each passing day. The only real hope that I can see of "...going to a system of people of the people chosen by the people, with no party bias...." is if he follows through with Proportional Representation which was overwhelmingly backed at the last LP Conference. If he doesn't, then obviously his reputation as an advocate for democracy will be in tatters (what's left of it anyway) and after his party delivers more of the same policies (just with vastly less sleaze and corruption) after winning the next GE, he will leave the door wide open for the Tories in 2029. That will be pretty much the end of any chance we have of ridding ourselves of the type of politics that has been devastating for this country. So, if PR pops up in any manifestos leading up to the next GE, anyone who really cares about a true democracy and genuinely fixing all of the issues that surround us would be well advised to get behind it.
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Keir Starmer is practically a Tory and appears to be angering huge swathes of the LP membership with each passing day. The only real hope that I can see of "...going to a system of people of the people chosen by the people, with no party bias...." is if he follows through with Proportional Representation which was overwhelmingly backed at the last LP Conference. If he doesn't, then obviously his reputation as an advocate for democracy will be in tatters (what's left of it anyway) and after his party delivers more of the same policies (just with vastly less sleaze and corruption) after winning the next GE, he will leave the door wide open for the Tories in 2029. That will be pretty much the end of any chance we have of ridding ourselves of the type of politics that has been devastating for this country. So, if PR pops up in any manifestos leading up to the next GE, anyone who really cares about a true democracy and genuinely fixing all of the issues that surround us would be well advised to get behind it.
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In reply to Post #82
Well said that man, he is an angler, super fines, that cripple them
Well said that man, he is an angler, super fines, that cripple them
In reply to Post #77
I saw a report published the other day – total shareholder dividend payments since water companies were privatised = £57 Billion in 30 years
And what did Thatcher say “We are privatising the Water Companies so they will invest money into replacing the aging Victorian infrastructure” Well that was a pack of lies.
That's the real problem, accountability ZERO
I saw a report published the other day – total shareholder dividend payments since water companies were privatised = £57 Billion in 30 years
And what did Thatcher say “We are privatising the Water Companies so they will invest money into replacing the aging Victorian infrastructure” Well that was a pack of lies.
That's the real problem, accountability ZERO
Beaches in Blackpool, Southport, St Annes and Morecambe are amongst the most polluted coastal spots in England and Wales.
According to recent figures, England and Wales' waterways had sewage pumped into them for at least 3.4million hours in just one year. Data from 2021 revealed the horrifying extent to which rivers, canals, the sea and other bodies have been polluted by water companies.
Figures from the Environment Agency - crunched by Top of the Poops - has found which water companies most guilty of spilling sewage into the country's water. It is thought the numbers may also be an underestimate as the companies don't always reliably collect data, it said.
The culprits-
Warrington-based water giant United Utilities said on Thursday its underlying operating profit fell from £732.1 million to £602.1 million as revenue slipped 2.8% to £1.80 billion in the year to March 31, 2021.
It's embarrassing that the British public are allowing this to happen, think its time to fire all the politicians!
According to recent figures, England and Wales' waterways had sewage pumped into them for at least 3.4million hours in just one year. Data from 2021 revealed the horrifying extent to which rivers, canals, the sea and other bodies have been polluted by water companies.
Figures from the Environment Agency - crunched by Top of the Poops - has found which water companies most guilty of spilling sewage into the country's water. It is thought the numbers may also be an underestimate as the companies don't always reliably collect data, it said.
The culprits-
Warrington-based water giant United Utilities said on Thursday its underlying operating profit fell from £732.1 million to £602.1 million as revenue slipped 2.8% to £1.80 billion in the year to March 31, 2021.
It's embarrassing that the British public are allowing this to happen, think its time to fire all the politicians!
In reply to Post #95
Agreed. It's a disgrace.
And to top it off...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64653482
Agreed. It's a disgrace.
And to top it off...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64653482
In reply to Post #96
BBC has woken up
about six months out of date with the times
GB News has been giving the Water and Energy Companies pure unadulterated hell for months! I'm surprised Lawrence Fox has not had a contract taken out on him, paid for by the Utility Companies, there's no holding back unlike the “BBC Pussy's”
Just turned GB News on now while having some dinner, guess who's on
https://www.windrushwasp.org/
BBC has woken up
GB News has been giving the Water and Energy Companies pure unadulterated hell for months! I'm surprised Lawrence Fox has not had a contract taken out on him, paid for by the Utility Companies, there's no holding back unlike the “BBC Pussy's”
Just turned GB News on now while having some dinner, guess who's on
https://www.windrushwasp.org/
In reply to Post #97
Well, I'd say that the issue has become so significant that the BBC can longer ignore at the behest of their Tory overlords. They're certainly pathetic. That said, I'd not be giving the time of day to channels like GB News or imbeciles like Laurence Fox either - their contributions to the enormous sh*t show that's enveloping this country today should not be underestimated. Luckily, I can't see GB News lasting much longer really, Ofcom will be scything them down soon enough since they're little more than a conspiracy broadcaster.
Well, I'd say that the issue has become so significant that the BBC can longer ignore at the behest of their Tory overlords. They're certainly pathetic. That said, I'd not be giving the time of day to channels like GB News or imbeciles like Laurence Fox either - their contributions to the enormous sh*t show that's enveloping this country today should not be underestimated. Luckily, I can't see GB News lasting much longer really, Ofcom will be scything them down soon enough since they're little more than a conspiracy broadcaster.
Addressed on the BBC news tonight
Sorry for my impoliteness but what the **** does that dumb arsed stupid bitch know, I will tell you, **** all
Sorry for my impoliteness but what the **** does that dumb arsed stupid bitch know, I will tell you, **** all
Pay increases for water company bosses...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk-water-company-bosses-pay-rise-sewage-clean-it-up-rg88t5kl3
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk-water-company-bosses-pay-rise-sewage-clean-it-up-rg88t5kl3
In reply to Post #95
The really awful thing is just how quickly the Govt have reversed
Decades of good work. Just 10 years ago we were winning
Blue flags all over the place. Short term profit over the long term good
Again.
The really awful thing is just how quickly the Govt have reversed
Decades of good work. Just 10 years ago we were winning
Blue flags all over the place. Short term profit over the long term good
Again.
In reply to Post #101
Look who is in charge of it....
No hope
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/river-deben-sewage-therese-coffey-clean-it-up-7ds3wj3xq
Look who is in charge of it....
No hope
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/river-deben-sewage-therese-coffey-clean-it-up-7ds3wj3xq
In reply to Post #101
Exactly that
Just wait until the waterways are truly tucked and some idiot will say, we shouldn't be doing that ffs
Exactly that
Just wait until the waterways are truly tucked and some idiot will say, we shouldn't be doing that ffs
In reply to Post #88
What he (or the current bunch) could do is:
- tell Ofwat to enforce the law as strictly as is possible on every breach
- if a company has more than x breaches implemented special measures consisting of
— all dividend payments suspended until breaches fall below x
— all bonuses stopped until breaches fall below x
— investigate each Water Co's specific rules on bonus clawbacks for executives (my company can do this for YEARS of payments, I expect other FTSE100 can as well)
- ban all offshore company structures for Water CO's
- ban bonuses based on any measures except environmental, customer service, or value to customers
If they aren't happy with this, they can hand the keys back.
To see how much they are looting us look at this (in the FT so hardly anti business!) https://www.ft.com/content/5413ebf8-24f1-11e7-8691-d5f7e0cd0a16
What he (or the current bunch) could do is:
- tell Ofwat to enforce the law as strictly as is possible on every breach
- if a company has more than x breaches implemented special measures consisting of
— all dividend payments suspended until breaches fall below x
— all bonuses stopped until breaches fall below x
— investigate each Water Co's specific rules on bonus clawbacks for executives (my company can do this for YEARS of payments, I expect other FTSE100 can as well)
- ban all offshore company structures for Water CO's
- ban bonuses based on any measures except environmental, customer service, or value to customers
If they aren't happy with this, they can hand the keys back.
To see how much they are looting us look at this (in the FT so hardly anti business!) https://www.ft.com/content/5413ebf8-24f1-11e7-8691-d5f7e0cd0a16
This is an actual Govt committee report.
In a time of divisive and tribal politics with misinformation all around
This report from Jan 2022 (things are worse now) is plain scary.

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee/news/160246/chemical-cocktail-of-sewage-slurry-and-plastic-polluting-english-rivers-puts-public-health-and-nature-at-risk/#:~:text=Only%2014%25%20of%20English%20rivers,of%20health%20for%20chemical%20contamination
In a time of divisive and tribal politics with misinformation all around
This report from Jan 2022 (things are worse now) is plain scary.

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee/news/160246/chemical-cocktail-of-sewage-slurry-and-plastic-polluting-english-rivers-puts-public-health-and-nature-at-risk/#:~:text=Only%2014%25%20of%20English%20rivers,of%20health%20for%20chemical%20contamination