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Reply | Winter fuel allowance
at 03:43 19 Jan 2025
Moving to a genuine pension fund would in a way resurrect the original Beveridge vision of a welfare state based on a Bismarckian social insurance model. If the fund is financed by employment-based contributions related to income rather than tax funding, there can still be a redistributive principle, but the pension would clearly be an entitlement rather than a benefit. Ironically (for Welsh people), we would then be moving away from what Nye Bevan preferred and getting closer to certain current European arrangements. I suppose you could say that central state-administered, tax-funded pensions work well enough when people follow the rules and a majority work through most of their adult lives, but start to creak when too many opt for a benefits-funded, non-work lifestyle or game the system. [Post edited 19 Jan 12:35]
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Reply | Oldham grooming gangs: Government blocks national inquiry
at 17:49 18 Jan 2025
One thing I hadn't really picked up before now is that the UK rape gang phenomenon is stirring up international interest. One might say that the obfuscation and inaction of the British authorities has given ammunition to right-wing critics of immigration elsewhere. In saying that I do not imply they are wrong in using that ammunition, but just that British political correctness did not so much win hearts and minds as push many in the opposite direction. I went on X to see what Musk was saying, and discovered that the UK gangs are a hot topic in Spain, as reflected in a recent video produced by the Vox political party. The thread at the link below illustrates the way opinion may be moving.
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Reply | January Transfer Thread
at 17:02 18 Jan 2025
Another central defender on the move is Tristan Crama who has reportedly just been signed by Millwall from Brentford. He had been on loan at Exeter, where he had done well this season. I guess he was one we could have considered. |
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Reply | Cardiff City v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 14:28 18 Jan 2025
Deeply depressing today. Shambolic defence, unimaginative midfield, two wingers who cannot beat a man, and anonymous strikers. I don't think we would have scored if we had played until midnight. This is probably the most comprehensive derby defeat I can remember. Biggest loss against Cardiff for 60 years. We are going backwards rather than progressing. |
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Reply | Cardiff City v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 13:42 18 Jan 2025
Not impressed with the inside knowledge of the Sky commentary team. 100 years of hostile rivalry? Only hostile since the 1960s really. Key in great form? Nice to have the derby and some of our players bigged up, but more homework was in order. |
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Reply | Oldham grooming gangs: Government blocks national inquiry
at 08:24 18 Jan 2025
Some welcome, if belated, action. However, the fact that two of the three sentenced offenders managed to flee the country and escape prison as the case proceeded, hardly indicates a well-oiled justice system. The system seems to have been notably more effective in jailing the far-right internet offender mentioned in Gwyn's link. That low-life fully deserves what he got, but I'd say he has been rather less productive in terms of number of victims suffering severe harm compared with the rape gang offenders. |
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Reply | Denis Law
at 21:37 17 Jan 2025
Saw him play in the flesh just once in 1969, Indeed, he had that extra touch of class. RIP. |
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Reply | Oldham grooming gangs: Government blocks national inquiry
at 16:03 17 Jan 2025
It is on the inflamed/ incited discrimination issue that you and some others of us differ. This has come up in several points in this thread. You contend that the call for an inquiry is at base motivated by racism, involves throwing one's lot in with the far right, and will harm community relations. In other words it will inflame tensions. Those who side with me say this is precisely the mindset that allowed the rape gangs to damage so many young girls; that it was reluctance to be seen as a racist with an agenda that led so many to avert their eyes. Just this morning on BBC Radio 4, Nick Robinson said to Lisa Nandy that several journalist colleagues had told him that the police had warned them not to print details of ethnicity re the gangs because it would inflame community tensions. That way of thinking is a huge part of the problem, and Elin Jones still hasn't grasped that lesson. I don't think I am going to convince you on this so I will leave it at that, but that is where a key line of difference in opinions lies. |
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Reply | Oldham grooming gangs: Government blocks national inquiry
at 14:26 17 Jan 2025
I'm not sure any of the three principal actors in this drama emerge with perfect scores, but surely the key passage in what the Llwydd said is: "You're being overly descriptive and verging on not being totally respectful of the victim at this point. (...) The use of language in this place needs to be making sure that you are keeping well away from inflaming any kind of discrimination or inciting of any kind of discrimination." For me the first issue is that the problem is that debates about the rape gang phenomenon haven't involved full descriptions, but rather descriptions that leave certain things out. In my view describing the horror of the rapes does not disrespect the victims. The second issue is that limiting what can be said because it might involve the "inciting of any kind of discrimination" is precisely what stymied investigations and action to control the child exploitation that we've seen. The ability to ask questions that may offend some is one of the main reasons why many people want a national inquiry (over 70% in recent surveys). [Post edited 17 Jan 14:27]
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