Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Tamas]

So anyways, result of the "good" presser by Starmer where he committed not to retaliate for retarded punitive tariffs on his country: Trump called letting go of the Chavos(?) islands a "very stupid decision" and an extra excuse to take over Greenland.

Go ahead, Starmer. I am sure we are just one more carefully worded deferential semi-criticism away from swaying Trump.

[Valmy]

So anyways, result of the "good" presser by Starmer where he committed not to retaliate for retarded punitive tariffs on his country: Trump called letting go of the Chavos(?) islands a "very stupid decision" and an extra excuse to take over Greenland.

Go ahead, Starmer. I am sure we are just one more carefully worded deferential semi-criticism away from swaying Trump.

The what islands?

[garbon]

I also saw that Labour is talking about its 'one in a generation reform' of the water system by increasing regulation and powers to perform surprise inspections of water companies.

As I saw one campaigner put it, none of that matters if river quality does not improve.

I'm not sure what comms genius came up with the idea of calling a policy (where most people won't even see any evidence it is occuring) as once in a generation.

[PJL]

So anyways, result of the "good" presser by Starmer where he committed not to retaliate for retarded punitive tariffs on his country: Trump called letting go of the Chavos(?) islands a "very stupid decision" and an extra excuse to take over Greenland.

Go ahead, Starmer. I am sure we are just one more carefully worded deferential semi-criticism away from swaying Trump.

The what islands?

It's the Chagos Islands, which the Diego Garcia base is a part of.

[Valmy]

Ok I sort of understand. The UK is giving those islands to Mauritius. And this is a very stupid decision for some reason.

So therefore the US should be given Greenland.

[garbon]

Ok I sort of understand. The UK is giving those islands to Mauritius. And this is a very stupid decision for some reason.

So therefore the US should be given Greenland.

Here's our stance in May of 2025

https://www.state.gov/u-s-support-for-uk-and-mauritius-agreement-on-chagos-archipelago

U.S. Support for UK and Mauritius Agreement on Chagos Archipelago

[PJL]

And by Trump's logic, the US should own all of NATO to ensure total protection from the Russians.

[Sheilbh]

Ok I sort of understand. The UK is giving those islands to Mauritius. And this is a very stupid decision for some reason.

It is a bad decision for bad reasons. But the US (under Trump) had a veto and endorsed it.

Edit: FWIW I wouldn't be surprised to see Trump endorse Milei and Argentina's position on the Falklands.

I also saw that Labour is talking about its 'one in a generation reform' of the water system by increasing regulation and powers to perform surprise inspections of water companies.

As I saw one campaigner put it, none of that matters if river quality does not improve.

Yeah I've not seen the detail on it but my understanding is that the big problem is around the infrastructure itself - and upgrades would cost around £40 billion.

Totally separately - absolutely wild quote from Mahmood in an interview with the Telegraph

When I was in justice, my ultimate vision for that part of the criminal justice system was to achieve, by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That is that the eyes of the state can be on you at all times.