WTF is happening in the UK?

A place to discuss politics and things related to Govts
Message
Author
User avatar
Ibbie
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 6077
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:11 pm
Location: Mijas Costa, Malaga, Spain
Gender:
Age: 74

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3421 Post by Ibbie » Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:06 am

Chaos! I don't think I have ever been so disallusioned with our inept politicians -
Then you have the chaos at the airports with malfunctioning e gates operated by the malfunctioning Border Force responsible to the malfunctioning Home Office.

Then the requirement still for a covid test on Day 2, even if downgraded from a PCR to a Lateral flow, for which the malfunctioning DoT is responsible for.

User avatar
TheGreenGoblin
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 17596
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2019 11:02 pm
Location: With the Water People near Trappist-1

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3422 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:49 am

Got up, got out of bed and decided to go to the gym at 06:30, a trip which requires driving past the Tesco service station in the High Street. There was was utter chaos, cars lined up on both sides of the road, with aggressive people trying to jump the queue, driving on the wrong side of the road, incontinent hooting, obvious stress, anger, blatant bad manners evident everywhere, and I simply turned the car around, left the car in the driveway and walked . A forty minute walk and forty minutes on the bike and two fingers to the debased fools on the road!

This problem is completely of the government's making. There was a shortage of HGV drivers before Brexit, and it was clear months ago that the loss of the EU HGV driver skill set would not be made up locally. The government was warned months ago and it did nothing about this situation. Opening up foreign driver working visas now is too late, this problem is going to persist, on and off, in multiple industries for months now. A good friend is an HGV driver and has a UK licence, although based in SA, he also has a British passport, but would rather work on the European continent or in the USA (which also has a big shortage of drivers) as the pay in these places is so much better. Salaries here will have to be raised, people trained. This will take months, if not years to correct locally.

Sunny uplands! Rather more like we are **** lands. Fools!
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

User avatar
Undried Plum
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 7308
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 8:45 pm
Location: 56°N 4°W

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3423 Post by Undried Plum » Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:39 am

The key to solving the lorry driver shortage is to jack up their pay scale by at least 100%, preferable 150%. That's not a government responsibility. It's a corporate one.

The only effect of importing cheap East European labour is to drive UK wages down. That's the opposite of what is needed for a sustainable solution to the chronic problem.

User avatar
Undried Plum
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 7308
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 8:45 pm
Location: 56°N 4°W

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3424 Post by Undried Plum » Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:49 am

Is that a Prius in the middle of the queue for petrol?

=))

Boac
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 17209
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2015 5:12 pm
Location: Here

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3425 Post by Boac » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:08 am

I can see all those idiots queuing for petrol from my bathroom window.

FAHaiLxXoAAsMj4.jpg
FAHaiLxXoAAsMj4.jpg (39.13 KiB) Viewed 677 times

User avatar
TheGreenGoblin
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 17596
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2019 11:02 pm
Location: With the Water People near Trappist-1

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3426 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:23 am

Boac wrote:
Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:08 am
I can see all those idiots queuing for petrol from my bathroom window.


FAHaiLxXoAAsMj4.jpg
=))

Papering over the cracks eh! ;)))
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

User avatar
TheGreenGoblin
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 17596
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2019 11:02 pm
Location: With the Water People near Trappist-1

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3427 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:29 am

Undried Plum wrote:
Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:39 am
The key to solving the lorry driver shortage is to jack up their pay scale by at least 100%, preferable 150%. That's not a government responsibility. It's a corporate one.

The only effect of importing cheap East European labour is to drive UK wages down. That's the opposite of what is needed for a sustainable solution to the chronic problem.
And you expect industry to apply that panacea! :-? =))

Even if they did, it would result in the whole unedifying mess continuing for another 6 months, at least, resulting in the costs being passed onto the consumer, making the UK one of the most expensive 3rd world countries to live in in the world!
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

User avatar
FD2
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 5110
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2015 10:11 pm
Location: New Zealand
Gender:
Age: 76

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3428 Post by FD2 » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:43 am

From a distance it appears that Bunter has been pathetically slow to react to or anticipate many problems and has left other problems to the mercies of idiots like Williamson, Raab and Hancock. An acute shortage of lorry drivers doesn't happen overnight. Better pretend to be worrying about wind power from the Dogger Bank like nutnuts advises. Maybe he has long Covid inside his skull. It's hard to see any of the present senior cabinet members doing a better job and there doesn't appear to be anyone on the Opposition benches who is better. What else has Bunter failed to see thundering down the road towards him? Has he actually got a plan to counter Sturgeon's moves towards breaking up the Union for instance? Is telling the general public not to panic buy, like instructing them to panic buy NOW!?

Might as well toddle down and see what's happening at the pub.


Panic Now.jpg

User avatar
TheGreenGoblin
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 17596
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2019 11:02 pm
Location: With the Water People near Trappist-1

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3429 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:46 am

Panic buying Bitter. Now there's an idea! :)
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

User avatar
TheGreenGoblin
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 17596
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2019 11:02 pm
Location: With the Water People near Trappist-1

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3430 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:50 am

Edmund King, the president of the AA, the Automobile Association, told BBC Breakfast the problem should pass in a matter of days if drivers just stuck to filling up when they needed it, adding “there is plenty of fuel at source” and that a shortage of lorry drivers had only been a “localised problem” earlier in the week.

Tony Danker, the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said it was “a shame” that queues had to form before the government acted, but described the government’s expected post-Brexit U-turn regarding a relaxation of visa rules for foreign lorry drivers as “a huge relief”.

Danker told BBC Breakfast: “Hopefully it is going to happen and it is a huge relief. We’ve been calling for it for three months, we could see this problem coming and more problems coming, and so it’s a shame the government needed queues at the pumps to move, but move I hope they have and it will help.”
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -head-says
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

User avatar
OFSO
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 18600
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:39 pm
Location: Teddington UK and Roses Catalunia
Gender:
Age: 80

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3431 Post by OFSO » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:51 am

The asking price for our villa in Spain varies according to the chaos in the UK, ie do we really want to return. Estate Agent sensing a sale yesterday asked if we'd come down a little in price? Reply was no. In fact we looked at each other and mutually thought "Hope he doesn't make an offer".

User avatar
TheGreenGoblin
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 17596
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2019 11:02 pm
Location: With the Water People near Trappist-1

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3432 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Sat Sep 25, 2021 12:36 pm

johngreen wrote:
Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:02 am
We are governed by morons.
...and surely in this respect, the government truly does a fabulous job in representing the qualities of the people that voted them in!
True... but even moronic voters deserve better! ;)))
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

User avatar
Wodrick
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 8332
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2015 8:23 am
Location: Torrox Campo, Andalucia.
Gender:
Age: 74

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3433 Post by Wodrick » Sat Sep 25, 2021 1:35 pm

OFSO wrote:
Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:51 am
The asking price for our villa in Spain varies according to the chaos in the UK, ie do we really want to return. Estate Agent sensing a sale yesterday asked if we'd come down a little in price? Reply was no. In fact we looked at each other and mutually thought "Hope he doesn't make an offer".
We recently increased our asking price, if we got approaching it then all well and good. think it's too high now though :)
The exchange rate is a killer too. I suspect you are asking quite a bit more than us. However I think you head for the home counties so prices are higher than where we would head. At the moment I seriously doubt that we can afford to live in the UK and I only see things deteriorating.
It's a mess.
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/ITORRO10?cm_ven=localwx_pwsdash

User avatar
OFSO
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 18600
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:39 pm
Location: Teddington UK and Roses Catalunia
Gender:
Age: 80

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3434 Post by OFSO » Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:04 pm

Agree with all. One reason for our high price is that almost all the putative purchasers are Frogs who immediately knock €200K off the asking price. We are five hours on the TGV from Paris so easy for them. Of course the Frogs are all hiding their money in Spain. French registered Ferraris, Maseratis etc. The big Porsch SUV everywhere, and a Ranger Rover is their second car. Here all year round, Spanish say nothing. .

User avatar
Woody
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 10245
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2015 6:33 pm
Location: Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand
Age: 59

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3435 Post by Woody » Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:23 pm

Why the panic for fuel, there's no shortage. The panic buyers are the people who do less than 20 miles a week. If you had a flute you could lead them over a cliff.
When all else fails, read the instructions.

Pontius Navigator
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 14669
Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2017 8:17 am
Location: Gravity be the clue
Gender:
Age: 80

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3436 Post by Pontius Navigator » Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:51 pm

Yes, put the price UP. We lost a sale at £25,000 below the asking price. Estate Agent thought we should reduce it. I thought we should increase. We compromised and left it where it was.
The day we departed on holiday we were down at the Port when the offer came in at £20,000 higher.

User avatar
Woody
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 10245
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2015 6:33 pm
Location: Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand
Age: 59

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3437 Post by Woody » Sat Sep 25, 2021 4:02 pm

Just back from filling up all my containers at my local petrol station, pity because I really liked that goldfish :(
When all else fails, read the instructions.

User avatar
FD2
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 5110
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2015 10:11 pm
Location: New Zealand
Gender:
Age: 76

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3438 Post by FD2 » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:11 pm

Is this the man who set this off?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... C-man.html

Or just a scapegoat?

HGV boss accused of triggering petrol pump crisis: Ministers point the finger at ex-BBC man and diehard Remainer who 'leaked remarks made by a BP executive at a private Government meeting'

Ministers say Rod McKenzie selectively leaked remarks made by BP executive at private Government meeting
Senior sources suggested ex-BBC boss ‘weaponised’ the comments to deflect blame for UK’s supply chaos
Mr McKenzie, who ran BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat before joining the Road Haulage Association, denied the claim
As managing director of policy for the RHA, he has blamed post-Brexit immigration restrictions for the crisis


Just scratch the surface and off they go, like rats in a sack:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -brim.html

Forecourt fury turns violent as drivers queuing to fill up exchange blows, while elsewhere motorists fill jerry cans and BP, Esso, Shell and Texaco limit drivers to £30 each - even though just ONE per cent of petrol stations are empty

Frenzied buying caused flare ups at gridlocked stations as motorists ignored Government pleas for calm
Oil giant BP has said it cannot maintain petrol and diesel deliveries due to the lack of lorry drivers in the UK
Petrol panic buyers caught on camera locked in a violent brawl at a petrol station in Sidlesham, Chichester
The news is the latest sign of industries in the UK struggling to cope with the shortage of HGV drivers
Ministers are on the verge of giving temporary visas to 5,000 foreign HGV drivers to help ease the pressure
Desperate motorists have been pictured filling jerry cans with illegal amounts of fuel amid panic buying

prospector
Capt
Capt
Posts: 1151
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 12:37 am
Location: New Zealand
Gender:
Age: 84

Re: WTF is happening in the UK?

#3439 Post by prospector » Sat Sep 25, 2021 11:18 pm

https://www.rt.com/op-ed/535820-islamop ... aign=Email

" It’s therefore not surprising that those who have cultural dominance feel emboldened to accuse others of, as in this instance, Islamophobia. Eventually, everything deemed a threat to sacred left values will be seen as “hateful” and “invalidating”. The result? Universities become brain-washing factories churning out graduates who all think the same, acceptable way. "

User avatar
Undried Plum
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 7308
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 8:45 pm
Location: 56°N 4°W

Imagine my surprise

#3440 Post by Undried Plum » Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:15 am

Under the guise of solving the non-existent petrol shortage, they're driving down HGV drivers wages by importing 5,000 cheap East Europeans.

Furthermore, they're also driving down agricultural workers wages by importing another 5,500 cheap European veggie pickers.

Bastards!

Post Reply